Dear Parishioners,

As we begin a New Year, it is good to offer all of our works, trials and joys to the Lord. God gives us everything and therefore it is right to offer it back to Him. I pray for all of you that you may be prosperous, fulfilled and well. But most of all I pray that all you may be holy.

In order to help with this, I would like to suggest some possible New Years resolutions that you can try to do over the next year. If any of these move your heart, then please try to do them. But one or two of them is enough for any person since I do not want to overburden you.

• Pray a rosary every day.
• Begin each day with a morning offering.
• Keep a Friday penance like eating no meat or praying the Stations of the Cross.
• Sign up for adoration on Thursday or just pray for an hour that day when you can.
• Read a good book about the faith every month or every other month.
• Subscribe and listen to Bible in a Year podcast. (Or just read the whole Bible)
• Volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul, Madonna House or some other worthy charity.
• Attend a mass in another language or liturgical tradition.
• Make an examination of conscience every evening.
• Volunteer to help our Religious Education program or RCIA.
• Join the choir.
• Share you faith with someone.
• Go on a Pilgrimage.
• Go to confession monthly. Or, apologize to someone you offended.

Finally, pray for perseverance. It is easy to make a resolution and hard to keep it. Gyms are booming in January and empty in February. When we make a promise, we should do our best to keep it especially promises we make do God. But if you do find yourself being neglectful, never be afraid to pick up where you left off.

God bless!

Fr. Carter