On Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, on the First Sunday after the Nativity of our Lord, His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak, in the presence of Rev. Fr. Aphrem Al Faham, celebrated the Holy Liturgy at the Parish of St. Aphraim in the Washington, DC area. At the beginning of his visit, Archbishop Kawak congratulated the parish on the blessed feast of the Nativity and extended his warm wishes for the New Year 2026. His Eminence also congratulated all on purchasing a new house in the parish area, noting that this step will support the parish’s pastoral life and future growth. In his sermon, Archbishop Kawak reflected on the Gospel scene of the Child Jesus in the temple and on how the Holy Family, after anxiously searching for Him, finally found Him among the teachers, listening and asking questions. He reminded the faithful that when our hearts feel empty, confused, or distracted, we often look for peace in the wrong places. But the proper place to find the Lord is in the Father’s house in prayer, worship, repentance, and in the life of the Church where Christ meets us, restores us, and re-centers our lives.
His Eminence then called everyone to examine their priorities and the direction of their daily lives. Are we living with God’s kingdom in mind, or have we become consumed by routine and worldly concerns? He encouraged the congregation to make a conscious decision to put God first, not only in words, but in the ordering of time, choices, and relationships. Archbishop Kawak also spoke about identity and purpose, reminding the faithful that our most profound dignity is found in belonging to God. When we remember who we are in Christ, our choices become clearer, and our hearts become steadier. From that foundation, he urged the faithful to seek God’s will first, trusting that the Lord provides what we truly need.
Finally, His Eminence emphasized that real spiritual maturity is balanced growth in faith and understanding, as well as in character, humility, and love. He encouraged families, and especially parents, to take seriously their holy responsibility to form children in the life of Christ, creating homes where prayer and the teachings of the Church are lived naturally and consistently. He concluded with a pastoral invitation to return: if prayer has grown cold, if the soul feels far, if the heart has wandered, today is the day to come back to the Father’s house and to choose again to be about the Father’s business.
