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Appeal by Les Rodrigues for the upcoming New Year's Eve gathering for all St. Thomas the Apostle parishioners

Posted : Dec-24-2024

les new years eve announcement

New Years Eve 2024 flyer

(Condensed version of original presentation in church after all weekend Masses from December 21/22, 2024.)

Clergy, all the leaders and members of the ministries, fellow parishioners and guests of St. Thomas.

I have 2 short stories to convey the message.

Story #1) In early January of 1976, while lunching with a Friar, he told me his Christmas story. After all the Christmas Masses, he drove north to visit his family. At his parents' house all his brothers and sisters and uncles and aunts and their extended families were gathered in small groups all over the main floor of the house. Each group was separated because of feuds, conflicts,  imagined or real disparities experienced. Until the youngest son arrived with his wife and a new born baby in tow. Within 15 minutes all had gathered around the baby and peace descended in the household.

As I was writing the story. I remembered the unofficial Christmas truce of 1914, when the German and English soldiers came out of their trenches and met in the no man's land to exchange gifts, play football and celebrate Christmas. Peace descended if only for a moment in time.

All because of an event that took place over 2000 years ago when hope was born.

Story #2) Todd Henry, an author, attended a business meeting. The presenter asked the audience "where is the richest land in the world?" The responses were not a surprise. the diamond mines of Africa. The oil wells in the middle east. the presenter had a different perspective. He said it was the cemetery. Not because millions were buried with gold and diamond but because of their valuable ideas that never came to fruition, to benefit their descendants. Inspired by this answer, Todd Henry wrote the book 'Die Empty" where he tried his best to motivate people to pour out their ideas and potential energies in their communities and turn them into something useful. He said do not go to your grave and carry inside you the best that you have to offer, always choose to die empty. Deliver all the goodness that is within you before you leave. Love, share and distribute.

That brings me to the message I have come to deliver. I have lived in this neighbourhood for 39 years of which 29 years I have spent in this parish. It has been all good for me and my family. With you, our family of faith, I have celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, I have served the marginalized, watched our youth grow, attended the Christmas potluck, brought in the new year. These social events were our mastic: we raised funds for our parish, we were socially connected, until covid. Our numbers have declined, the social events, connections, our youth programs are all on the decline. We can use this as an excuse and say it's a challenge or use this an opportunity to regroup and come back stronger than ever. It is up to us, what legacy we want to leave behind.

On the 24 of December, Jubilee 2025, the Holy Year begins. For the first event, Let's get together to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on 31 December at the 5.00pm Mass and then go down to the basement to dine together as a family of faith. Bring your children, grandchildren, the whole extended family. I urge all the ministries, leaders and members, to reach out to your family and friends. We will ring in the New Year at 8.00 for the kids and anyone who wants to go to sleep early. There will be games for the kids and adults. Bring your preferred beverage. We will be liquor licenced and dance the night away till 1.00 am. to make it affordable, the adult tickets price is reduced to $40 and the children's tickets will remain at $15. If you can't come, buy a ticket and we will donate to someone who can't afford. All proceeds will be for our parish. I will be at the back with some of the organizers. Come, buy a ticket or two or just chat. Thank you.

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