The calendar year is coming to and end and the New Year of 2016 is ready to begin. It is a time of excitement and change as many people make their resolution on how they will begin to live their lives anew by changing long standing habits and promising with great sincerity to begin new things that will bring more joy, peace and happiness into their lives. Wonderful.

The truth is we all need to remove the bad habits from our lives and begin to practice the good habits that bring joy, peace and happiness into our lives. This is the challenge that we face: becoming the better person. In faith language we can take the above sentence and by changing a few words hear this: we all need to remove sin (vices) from our lives and begin to practice holiness (virtue) that brings true joy, true peace and true happiness into our lives and the life of the world.

I propose to you these very simple resolutions.

1. Celebrate Confession monthly: if you go to confession regularly…amen…if you don’t take time to begin. I know it can be hard to find time and parishes don’t always make it convenient to celebrate…but…resolutions are supposed to be a challenge and change in the way we do things. Just try. If you haven’t been in years or even just a few months, God’s mercy awaits you in this beautiful Sacrament of healing. Remember this: sin is bad and holiness is good. God made us holy and Confession renews our holiness.
2. Celebrate the Eucharist weekly: yes, GO TO MASS. More importantly celebrate Mass. Mass is a participatory prayer that is an ongoing conversation of love between God and His people. It is a conversation of thanksgiving and hope. If you don’t understand the Mass, then take time to read, learn and talk about the Mass with someone. Just begin and go…it is amazing how it will change your life when we, you and me, participate in the gift of the Mass rather than just observe it. Remember this: sin is bad and holiness is good. God made us holy and the Eucharist strengthens our life of holiness.
3. Celebrate your vocation daily: How have you lived your vocation today? What blessing did you bring to your spouse, children, family and friends through your vocation today? These are questions we should ask ourselves each day whether we are married or single, vowed religious or priests. All vocations are vocations to love in sacrificial service to the other. Service isn’t a bad thing…it is a great act of love. Choosing words, actions and thoughts that build rather than destroy are stepping-stones of love. We help build the pathway when we choose to love and forgive. Remember this: sin is bad and holiness is good. God made us holy and in our vocation we are called to be God’s sign of holiness in the world.
4. Pray hourly: Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray and then pray some more…if you don’t know how to pray then ask for help…if you get bored in prayer then ask for help…if you don’t have time for prayer then ask for help. Prayer begins with an attitude of thanksgiving in both good times and bad, as the great Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said, ““There are two ways of waking up in the morning. One is to say, ‘Good morning, God,’ and the other is to say, ‘Good God, morning’!” Prayer helps us to slow the overly busy days and experience the love of God. Remember this: sin is bad and holiness is good. God made us holy and we spread holiness when we choose to be in conversation with God.

I pray that you and your family have a holy and blessed New Year.

God Bless

Fr. Mark