From the Desk of Father Nathan

St Gabriel Catholic Church | Pompano Beach
God Bless You All

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people closest to my heart!
God bless you and your generous heart.

Celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family

This week we are celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family. This feast is on the first Sunday after Christmas.

What is the Feast of the Holy Family

This Feast of the Holy Family commemorates their life together, and the celebration focuses on religious family life, because of the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt.

This feast day was formally instituted in 1921 under Pope Benedict XV.  It was originally celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany (January 6, the Feast of the Holy Family was moved to the Sunday after Christmas in 1969, bringing it within the Christmas season.

Learning to Live as the Holy Family

To best learn how to live as the Holy Family did, we must incorporate Jesus, Mary, and Joseph into our lives through affection. As within our own families, analysis and reason are insufficient when it comes to enduring trials.

Only love, supplemented by faith and hope, will suffice. As human beings, love is a choice that we are always free to make. Thus, the Gospels and Church, particularly in her liturgy, stress Jesus’ total freedom in giving His life for us. Embracing the Holy Family means accepting them as they are – and ourselves as well.

Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) of the Scriptures

 

Lectio divina  is Latin for “divine reading” and is a traditional Christian practice of reading, meditating, and praying the Bible to deepen one’s understanding of God’s word and to commune with God:  

  • Reading: Slowly and reflectively read a short passage of Scripture aloud. Pause on words or phrases that resonate with you.
  • Meditation: Reflect on what you read.
  • Contemplation: Contemplate on what you read.
  • Prayer: Respond to God in prayer.
 

We (re)discover the Holy Family through the process of lectio divina on the Scriptures, by which we invite them into our lives and open ourselves to the Spirit. Traditional devotions such as the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross are proven ways of entering into the mystery.

We embrace them as we would a family member, and in a different way they are no less challenging. They long to become part of us, related by adoption through human and divine choice.

The Perfect Time to Renew Devotional Practices

The Feast of the Holy Family is a wonderful time for Catholics across the theological spectrum to renew their devotion to them. Devotion to the Holy Family and love of family are complementary practices as the former is the model of the local and universal human family. Embracing the Holy Family means entrusting ourselves to them like a child, in the manner proposed by Jesus (cf. Lk 18:16-17). Through emulation in prayer, service, and obedience, we cultivate this enthusiastic disposition. Venerable Fulton Sheen inscribed “JMJ” in remembrance of the Holy Family whenever he wrote religious reflections and instructions

Wishing all of you a prosperous New Year 2025.

With lots of love and blessings.

Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,

— Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan

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Past Messages from Father Nathan

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | May 18, 2025

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | May 18, 2025

Thank You For Celebrating with me
I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who came together to celebrate my ordination anniversary. Your love, generosity, and joyful presence turned the day into something truly unforgettable.

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | May 11, 2025

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | May 11, 2025

Celebrating my 21st Ordination
May 10
This week, I will celebrate my 21st Ordination anniversary. I DO NOT like any celebrations for me personally, but when the priesthood is celebrated, I really like it. It’s not the person but the priesthood of Christ…

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | April 13, 2025

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | April 13, 2025

Holy Doors Pilgrimage Trip Report. We are back, healthy and renewed. We had a great pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi. Everyone stayed healthy. The places we visited were more than I expected! I have realized that I have yet to learn an ocean of knowledge about our Catholic faith.

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | April 06, 2025

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | April 06, 2025

Become a Prayer Warrior. Time is Precious & With Age we Gain Time. There is no doubt that most of our parishioners are age 63 plus. Some may be quick to assume that because of our age, we cannot do a lot to contribute to the community and to society. It’s so unfortunate to think that.

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 30, 2025

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 30, 2025

I am in Rome on the Holy Doors Pilgrimage with a Group of Parishioners. Please keep us in your prayers. Preparations have begun for Holy Week and Easter. We have planned the liturgies and all the details they involve. I wish and pray that our people have a meaningful celebration of Holy Week and Easter.

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