It is six months before Christmas, and today is honored as the celebration of the birth of John the Baptist to fulfill the biblical timeline that is announced in St. Luke’s infancy narrative. When the angel Gabriel comes to Mary he tells her that Elizabeth her kinswoman is now in her sixth month, pregnant with John. And so we honor today the Forerunner, the one who will announce to the world the Lamb of God, baptize and points out Christ, something each of us is called to do by our very lives.
I also welcome to our parish Fr. Malcolm McDonald. Fr. Malcolm is the prison chaplain for the Allegheny County Jail. He is now living in residence in our parish house. He was living at St. John Vianney Manora residence for retired priests. With the diocese selling the Cardinal Dearden Center in Oakland, six retired priests living there needed a place to live, so the non-retired priests at the Manor needed to move out. Since Fr. Malcolm is a buddy of mine, the diocese asked me if I would provide him a place to live. I gladly said yes. Since he is a full-time chaplain, you might see him at our 7:15 AM Mass. Welcome, Fr. Malcolm!
