What are your spiritual New Year’s resolutions? As creatures created with growth in mind – physically, mentally, and spiritually – it is important that we commit each year to giving God our best, ultimately for our own fulfillment. Growing in prayer, the       wisdom of the saints, celebrating the sacraments well, knowledge of the Scriptures, awareness of God through the Scriptures, and growth in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy are all important ways for us to grow.

Please join me as we talk through and open up the book “Why We’re Catholic” that was given as this year’s Christmas gift to the parish. The first session will be on January 13th at 7pm in the main church. We need the church full so that we can all grow together!

Monday is the feast of St. Andre Bessette, a saintly brother of the Congregation of Brothers of the Holy Cross, the sponsoring order of my alma mater, Hoban High School. He suffered much in his earthly life and had great devotion to St. Joseph. Here are a few quotes from Andre:

“The door to heaven is the heart of Jesus. The key to this door is prayer and love.”

 “People who suffer have something to offer to God. “When they succeed in enduring their suffering, that is a daily miracle.”

  “Do not seek to have these trials lifted from you. Instead, ask for the grace to bear them well.”