During the days of preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, our parish of the Immaculate Conception in San Francisco was filled with a special grace. For three days, we held Christmas spiritual retreats on the theme: “The Holy Family — A Model of the Domestic Church.” The spiritual leader of these days was Fr. Serhiy Kovalchuk, Chancellor of the St. Nicholas Eparchy of Chicago, who shared with us his spiritual wisdom, experience, and the warmth of his heart.
In his teachings, Fr. Serhiy inspired us to reflect on the example of the Holy Family as a model of love, unity, and trust in God’s providence. In light of this example, every family is called to be a small church where Christ reigns, where forgiveness and mercy form the foundation of relationships, and where prayer becomes the source of strength.
We are deeply grateful to Fr. Serhiy for his ministry, wisdom, and love that he brought to our community. His presence was a gift to each of us, and his words a light to guide us on the path of holiness.
We also thank God for the opportunity to have these retreats. May they bear good fruit in our families, so that the example of the Holy Family truly comes alive in our homes. May the Lord bless us all with peace, joy, and faith, so that we, as one great family, may celebrate the Nativity of Christ with renewed hearts!
