February 1, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we journey from Christmas to Lent, we come to a special observance. On Monday, the Church will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord: the 40th day from Jesus’ birth, when Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem and presented him in the Temple. This moment is yet another response of faith from Jesus’ earthly family: in bringing him into the Temple, they acknowledged God the Father as being the ultimate source of the gift of life and salvation which came to us in Christ. This feast day brings with it a few notable cultural traditions that we’ll be observing at Mass this weekend. First, you’ll probably notice many parishioners bringing images of the Infant Jesus to church this weekend. This is a wonderful imaginative way to join with Mary and Joseph in showing love and gratitude to God for the gift of his Son. The tradition is especially associated with Hispanic culture, but all parishioners are invited to participate in this beautiful custom. Second, it is customary to bless candles on the Feast of the Presentation. This is an echo back to the days when families would spend the winter working on indoor projects like candle-making, before the planting and harvesting seasons began in the spring. Blessing candles, as part of the work of our hands, is a way to give thanks to God for the gift of being able to participate in his work in the world, as well as to ask his spiritual light to shine in our hearts and homes. Finally, we will be concluding the Prayers of the Faithful this weekend with a special blessing through the intercession of St. Blaise, an ancient martyr of the Church known for working healing miracles. The blessing is traditionally given while the priest holds two candles, and with it, we offer a prayer for all of those who suffer in any way. This weekend filled with wonderful traditions of faith designed to fill our hearts with joy and our lives with reminders of God’s love. Through the intercession of the Holy Family and our patron St. Thomas, let’s allow the signs and symbols of this time to draw us closer to God and each other. God bless,

Father Jantz