12/26/2025
Dear Beloved Members and Friends of AGLOChicago,
Merry Christmas! Christ the King is born today! Sing joyfully to the Lord!
As we approach the close of another year, we remember the immense love and light that God has poured into our lives, especially in the moments when we feel unseen or uncertain. Today, we invite you to reflect with us on the grace that we find in this Christmas Liturgy and on the beautiful and diverse ways God has made us in His image.
In the Gospel of John, we are given this powerful reminder:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
This Christmas, we celebrate the birth of that Light—the Word made flesh in Jesus Christ. As a community of faith, we are reminded that this light is for everyone, each one of us, regardless of identity or struggle. Just as Jesus’ birth was a light that could not be extinguished by darkness, so too does His Love reach us in all our complexities, providing warmth and safety in a world that often misunderstands us. As LGBTQ+ people of faith, we know the light of Christ shines especially brightly in our lives, embracing all that we are and calling us into fuller communion with Him and with each other.
The prophet Isaiah, in his message of hope, proclaims:
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, "Your God is King!" Hark! Your watchmen lift up their voice, together they shout for joy, for they see directly, before their eyes, the Lord restoring Zion. Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted his people, redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God. (Isaiah 52:7-10)
In this passage, we see that the Good News of salvation is for all the nations, for all people, and that God’s redeeming love extends to all—no one is left out. The joy and peace we celebrate this Christmas are not limited by the boundaries we often place on ourselves or others. God’s arms are wide open, embracing us with compassion and love. As we witness the joy and light of Christ’s birth, we are also called to reflect that joy to others, to be a witness of love in the world, and to share the good news of peace and reconciliation.
As we approach the end of this year, let us hold fast to the hope our faith brings, trusting that God's love is constant and ever-present, even through the challenges we face. We give thanks for the strength and courage that each one of you has shown in this past year, for your commitment to living authentically and in love, and for the ways you have contributed to the life of this ministry. Your presence—whether through prayer, service, or simple acts of kindness—has been a light to all around you.
In this season, we also remember that we are called to be a light for one another. Let us continue to hold each other in prayer, supporting one another, and reaching out to all in need, knowing that the joy of Christmas is made real when shared.
There is still time to share this Christmas joy by contacting any of our Mission in Action partners—especially Sister Katie Mitchell, FSPH, of Holy Name Cathedral’s Cabrini Ministry ([email protected]), who always needs help with grocery shopping and delivery for the families they serve, and Daniel at St. Francis Catholic Worker House ([email protected]), to donate towels, cleaning supplies and personal care products for the unhoused guests they provide a temporary home. Our community is more than the people we see in the pews each week or in our faith-sharing groups or retreats.
In the coming year, AGLO will continue to be a place of welcome, healing, and growth for all of us. May we find comfort in the knowledge that we are deeply loved by God for who we are, and that His plans for us are always good. Together, as the Body of Christ, we are stronger and more radiant in our shared love for one another and our Creator.
Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a blessed New Year filled with grace, peace, mercy and abundant love.
With the Peace and Love of Christ,
The executive board of AGLOChicago
