Happy New Year! As we say “Farewell” to 2023 and “Welcome” to 2024, it is timely to reflect on this past year and embrace the new one with hope.
What goals, “resolutions” do you have for the new year. Often, resolutions revolve on our temporal, or worldly life, as opposed to our spiritual life. These are good and important, especially since we believe all aspects of our life connected .
Thus it is good to consider saving money, losing weight, visiting family more often, or whatever your resolutions may be.
At the same time, I encourage you consider renewing the resolutions we might have set at the beginning of Advent, our “New Year” as Catholics.
Let’s remain faithful to our spiritual goals and our individual discipleship path. Give your spiritual resolutions time to become a habit. Consider the 10 Minutes of Silence challenge we proposed in the Advent Message Series, A Quiet Place… Find a spiritual director (we have them right here at Saint Helen) or someone in the parish who can provide support or guidance.
Take on a new ministry or volunteer effort here at Saint Helen or even elsewhere. Sign up for Growing in Faith (starting January 6, 2024), Called & Gifted (the one-day session on January 6, 2024, that launches you into the
program), Discovering Christ (starting January 16, 2024), or for our upcoming Women’s and Men’s Cornerstone (Women on February 23-24, 2024, and Men on March 8-9, 2024). We are most willing to help you with any resolution that may bring you closer to the Lord.
As we all know, a New Year traditionally provides an opportunity for a fresh start, to begin anew. Let us all be open to how the Lord is calling us to deeper faith, hope and love.
Whatever you choose to focus on this year, or whatever opportunities the Lord may be putting in your path, always remember you are never alone on this journey.
Be open to the voice of our Lord. As we start our new year, know that our parish mission continues as we worship God, serve others, and make disciples. Let us unite in prayer for peace across the world.
God Bless you all and Happy New Year!
Msgr. Tom
