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My sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ, Merry Christmas! During the Octave of Christmas, we recall the central mystery of our faith: the Incarnation. The God who created the heavens and the earth has entered our history and time, taken our human frailty upon himself, and renewed us from within. The mystery of the newborn Christ is profound, for in Jesus Christ divine and human natures are united—perfectly, fully, and without division. He has assumed our humanity so that we might share in his divine life. Our ministry exists to proclaim this Good News: in the Incarnation, God has reconciled us—and all creation—to himself. If you are in Saint Charles County, Missouri, and would like to receive the sacraments (the holy mysteries), please reach out. We are here to share the joy and grace of the Incarnation with you. This week, we released a video. “Christmas and Orthodoxy: Return to the Essential” which reflects on Christmas through an Orthodox Christian lens, inviting viewers to set aside secondary arguments and return to the heart of the faith. Drawing on the Church Fathers and Orthodox hymnody, the video centers on the mystery of the Incarnation—God’s humility in taking flesh from the Virgin Mary—as the “greater exchange” by which humanity is renewed Above all, the video emphasizes Christianity as God’s initiative: the bridge between God and humanity has already been built in Christ, and Orthodox ascetic practices (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving) are seen as cooperation with the divine life at work within us. The message concludes by calling all Christians to unite around Christmas’ essential truths—Trinity, Incarnation, and the saving work that leads toward Easter—celebrating Christ’s birth as light entering the world to make all things new. Peace, Rev. Ben
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Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, As we enter the joy of Christmas, I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas. This holy season draws us again into the heart of the Gospel: the mystery of the Incarnation—that the eternal Word of God did not remain distant, but took flesh and dwelt among us. God comes to us not as an idea, but as a living Person; not merely as a lesson, but as a gift. In Jesus Christ, the Creator steps into creation, embracing our humanity so that humanity might be lifted into the life of God. At Saint Oscar Romero Ministries, we pray that Christmas will be for you not only a beautiful memory or a cherished tradition, but a renewed encounter with Emmanuel—God-with-us—who enters our real lives: our burdens, our hopes, our questions, our griefs, and our longing for holiness. May the peace of Christ be close to you and your loved ones. Weekly Eucharistic Liturgy Streaming—and Sacraments In Person Our ministry exists to sustain God’s people with the life-giving message of Jesus Christ, especially those who may feel disconnected or unable to participate in a local congregation. As part of that mission, we are streaming the Eucharistic liturgy weekly, so that prayer and worship remain accessible beyond the limits of geography, mobility, or circumstance. If you are looking for a place to pray, to listen to the Word of God, and to keep the rhythm of Christian worship, you are warmly invited to join us online. And if you would like to receive the Sacraments in person—especially the Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation (Confession), or Anointing of the Sick—please reach out. Saint Oscar Romero Ministries provides pastoral and sacramental care, including Baptism, Confirmation/Chrismation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and Marriage. To request sacramental care: you can use the contact form on our website. Two Newly Self-Published Books This season also brings two new resources that I hope will serve both seekers and fellow Christians who want to go deeper. 1) Make Disciples, Not Followers: A Biblical Guide to Christian Online Witness Many of us spend a significant part of our lives online—yet it is easy to confuse “visibility” with “witness,” and “followers” with true disciples. This book is a practical and biblical guide for Christians who want to live faithfully in digital spaces: speaking with charity, resisting outrage, telling the truth without cruelty, and using online tools for genuine evangelization, encouragement, and formation. The goal is simple: not to build a platform, but to help people draw nearer to Christ. Make Disciples, Not Followers: A Biblical Guide to Christian Online Witness: Stern, Rev Benjamin J: 9798261898337: Amazon.com: Books 2) Faith Without Permission: The Story and Spirit of the Independent Sacramental Movement This book introduces readers to the story, spirituality, and pastoral reality of the Independent Sacramental Movement (ISM). It explores why sacramental life continues to flourish outside familiar institutional boundaries, how communities like these understand apostolic succession and sacramental grace, and what draws many people toward a “smaller” but deeply sacramental expression of Christian life. It is written both to explain and to invite: to describe a living stream of Catholic and apostolic faith that many have never encountered, even as they have been searching for it. Faith Without Permission: The Story and Spirit of the Independent Sacramental Movement: Stern, Benjamin J: 9781608628919: Amazon.com: Books New Video This Week A new video was released this week: “Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism: Two More Books and Thoughts.” Both traditions are held in high esteem while recognizing real theological differences. We affirms the historical depth and sacramental life present in both communions, then highlights several key areas of disagreement: questions around Petrine primacy and the scope of papal authority, the addition of the filioque clause to the Creed, and concerns within Eastern Orthodoxy about the close interweaving of church, state, and cultural expressions that may not translate universally. We also reflect on two books—one recounting a Franciscan friar’s conversion to Orthodoxy and critique of papal formulations, and another outlining differences between the traditions with an emphasis on grace as a gift for all and a holistic, communal vision of salvation. The speaker concludes with a hopeful, prayerful tone: rejecting the claim that only one communion is the “true church,” he expresses love for both traditions and recognizes God’s work in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Old Catholicism, longing for a future “union of love and sharing.” A Christmas Invitation If you are reading this and feeling weary, alone, unsure, or simply hungry for a deeper connection to the life of prayer and sacramental grace: please know you are not an interruption—you are exactly why this ministry exists. Saint Oscar Romero Ministries is here as a community of refuge, grounded in the proclamation of the Word and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. May Christ, born of Mary, bless you richly this Christmas—and draw you ever more deeply into His peace. Merry Christmas, Rev. Ben My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ, As we enter the Third Sunday of Advent, the Church invites us to deepen our preparation for the celebration of the mystery of the Incarnation—the astonishing truth that God has taken flesh and dwelt among us. In the Western Christian tradition, Advent is often understood as a season of interior preparation: a time of repentance, attentiveness, and joyful expectation as we ready our hearts to receive Christ anew. In many Oriental Christian traditions, such as the Maronite Church, this same season unfolds as a series of announcements—a proclamation of how God's plan is unfolding in the lives of Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and John the Forerunner. Together, these perspectives remind us that Advent is both preparation and revelation: we prepare our hearts even as we stand in awe of God’s initiative and action. We continue to record and share our liturgies weekly, making them available for prayer and reflection beyond Sunday worship. We are also pleased to share that a new video has been released this week. The video reflects on the spiritual witness of Mount Athos, drawing from Mount Athos: The Highest Place on Earth. This video reflects on Eastern Christian spirituality, especially monastic life as a living sign of the Church’s holiness. Themes include the call to transcend self-centeredness, the quiet power of kindness and humility, hidden sanctity, and the mystery of encountering the holy God who both attracts and humbles us. Ultimately, the reflection points toward the godlikeness of humanity, revealed most fully in the Incarnation—God becoming human so that humanity might be drawn into divine life. As we move closer to Christmas, may this season help us prepare not only to celebrate Christ’s birth, but to recognize how God continues to take flesh in lives marked by love, humility, and hope. Peace, Rev. Ben My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ, Advent always begins in the dark. Not the darkness of despair, but the quiet and fertile darkness of a world waiting to be renewed. On this second Sunday of Advent, the Church invites us deeper into the spirit of expectation—a waiting that is not passive, but full of hope, readiness, and longing for the God who comes to us again and again. Expectation is different from anxiety. Anxiety imagines all that could go wrong. Expectation imagines all that God can yet do. John the Baptist calls people to prepare the way—not because God is far away, but because God is already drawing near. Advent asks us: What in our lives needs clearing, healing, softening, or opening so that Christ may enter more fully? To expect Christ is to believe, with quiet confidence, that grace is already at work beneath the surface of our ordinary days. We wait not for a distant God but for the God who is always approaching, always seeking us, always ready to begin something new. Weekly Online Liturgies — and an Invitation to Gather We are now posting weekly liturgy videos online as a resource for all who wish to pray with us. These liturgies are meant to support individuals, families, and small communities—especially those who may not have access to a nearby parish or chapel. These liturgies can be found at: Saint Oscar Romero Ministries - YouTube As Advent presses upon us with its call to community and renewal, we invite you to consider something simple yet profoundly important: Could you host a small liturgy in your home? Do you have space where two or three might gather to worship? The Independent Sacramental Movement has always thrived in the hidden corners of ordinary life—living rooms, kitchens, community centers, borrowed spaces, hospital rooms, and chapels set up in basements and garages. Advent reminds us that Christ was born not in a grand temple but in a humble place made holy by God’s presence. If you feel called to make room for others, even in a small way, please reach out. Faith Formation This Week: Rethinking Christian Morality This week’s faith-formation video takes a deep and honest look at moral theology, understanding the subject is vast, complicated, and often misunderstood. We explore several major moral frameworks:
The video challenges the common question, “Is this a sin?”, by reframing sin as disordered desire—loving good things in the wrong order. Christian life is not simply about avoiding sin but about pursuing the good, encountering Christ, and allowing grace to transform us from within. Through the stories of St. Mary of Egypt and Aba Moses the Black, the video beautifully illustrates that holiness is not about perfection but about surrender—opening our lives to the God who purifies, redeems, and elevates our nature. The core message is clear: Christian morality is not the minimum requirement for heaven; it is the joyful, grace-filled journey of giving our whole selves to God. As We Continue Through Advent… May this week be one of holy expectation for you—an expectation rooted not in fear or uncertainty, but in the promise that Christ is coming into our lives even now. Let us wait together, pray together, and prepare the way together. The world needs the quiet witness of communities—small or large—who believe that grace can be born anywhere space is made for it. Blessed Advent, and may Christ deepen your hope in the week ahead. Peace, Rev. Ben |
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