A Letter From Our Pastor
Start 2022 with a Clean Spiritual Slate My Dear Friends in Christ,
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e were taught in school that the month of January gets its name from Janus, the ancient Roman god of doors and gates. If you recall, his image was always carved or painted with two faces, one looking forward and the other backward. He was focused on new beginnings. Because of Janus’ place in the Roman pantheon, the Romans named the first month of the civil year after him, January. And although we no longer worship pagan gods, the name has stuck through the centuries. The symbol of Janus’ double countenance, facing forward and backward, reflects how we so often approach the coming of each new year. Newspapers, magazines, programs, and social media give a glance back at the “Top 10 Lists” of the past year — best movies, most important events, prettiest people, and stuff like that. They also make predictions of what the new year will bring — higher costs, better fishing, who will win the super bowl, and such. Like the world, we might look back at our own successes as well as our failures, at our happy events and sad moments. We should also look forward to the new year as we prepare our new year’s resolutions. When we reflect back on the blessings we’ve received, our hearts should be filled with gratitude — no matter how difficult the year has been, there were blessings to be counted. But for most of us, there have also been disappointments and failures. The moral mistakes, sins, and character flaws, call for repentance and a new resolve. A trip to the confessional can help. It gives Jesus the chance, with your help, to make “all things new” in you (Rev 21:5). It would give
you a clean spiritual slate with which to begin the new year. Either way, before making your new year’s resolutions, I challenge you to first make a grateful response to God for the past year. There are many ways to do that. 1. The word “eucharist” is Greek for “thanksgiving.” There is no better way than worshipping Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass to tell God “Thank You!” Whether you come to a daily Mass once or recommit to every Sunday at church, you will have made progress. 2. One of my favorite ways to give thanks to God is to pray the Rosary. For each Hail Mary, thank God for a different blessing. For those who are able, try a weekly or daily Rosary. 3. Daily prayers with your family are a great way to give thanks to God. To teach your spouse or your children to be grateful will help them the rest of their lives. Let’s look forward to the new year. And let’s bring Jesus Christ to the center of our resolutions. Then we will have even more reason to look back and give thanks to God! Have a holy and happy New Year! In our Father’s hands, Fr. Greg Paffel Pastor
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