Flocknote

Blessing of Homes on Epiphany

Visit, O blessed Lord,

our home with the gladness of Your presence.

Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of Your love;

and grant that we may manifest Your love to each other

and to all whose lives we touch.

May we grow in grace and in the knowledge

and love of You; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.

As we welcome the new year 2026, we rejoice for the gift of new opportunities to journey with each other in faith. From pilgrims of hope, we are now called to be missionary disciples, equipped with the joy of Christ born in our midst.

Titular Feast Day of the Cathedral of Christ the Light

This weekend, we are celebrating here at the Cathedral our titular feast day, the Epiphany of the Lord. This feast allows us to truly comprehend what it means that God has brought His only Son into our world. The Wise Men – Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar – were the first people outside of the stable to come and pay homage to Jesus, bringing with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Epiphany not only signifies the calling of the chosen few, like the Wise Men, but it also is an invitation to anyone and everyone around the world to follow Christ.

Plenary Indulgence

Because January 4 is the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, and Titular Feast of the Cathedral, the faithful may gain a plenary indulgence under the normal conditions: visiting the Cathedral Church, going to confession and receiving Holy Communion within a fortnight, and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Chalk the Door: 20+C+M+B+26

Many families will celebrate Epiphany with an opportunity to bless their homes in the New Year by taking the first two numbers of the year, adding the letters CMB (to honor the three Wise Men), and the last two numbers of the year, and then displaying this sign over the top of the door of their home. The letters stand for the Latin phrase, “Christus mansionem benedicat,” or, “Christ, bless this house.”

Rosca de Reyes

Rosca de Reyes, or Three Kings Cake, is an ornate sweet bread that is soft, buttery, and has a hint of orange flavor. It’s often round or oval in shape and decorated with red and green candied cherries, strips of guava or quince paste, and a sweet streusel-like topping. In Mexican tradition, 1 to 3 baby figurines representing Baby Jesus are hidden inside of the Rosca de Reyes. Families gather together on the day of Epiphany and share this delicious bread, where everyone cuts a slice. If your slice of Rosca de Reyes has a Baby Jesus inside, you have to cook tamales for the whole family on February 2 for Día de la Candelaria, or Candlemas.

Be a Witness .. Be a Missionary Disciple

Celebrate Epiphany by remembering what God has done in your life. Share with a friend, family member, neighbor, or co-worker how God has revealed Himself to you in the previous year, and marvel at the Lord's fidelity and providence. By doing so, you can encourage others to be grateful, too, and truly spread the joy of the Gospel to the world ... one story, one person, one gesture at a time!

Always grateful,

Father Erick Villa