Happy New Year!

Growing up, the New Year was a special celebration for my family and relatives. We had a great party with lots of food, music, and dancing. We stayed up all night. We waited for midnight to welcome the New Year together. The highlight of the celebration was the fireworks! After all that, we continued to eat, which in my culture is called “Media Noche” literally translated as midnight.

On New Year’s Day, we all went to Mass. Our folks told us that should be the first thing we do on the first day of the new year – remember God and give thanks. That tradition has been instilled in each member of my family and relatives. If I am not mistaken, that beautiful tradition continues even today and has been passed on to our younger relatives.

Today, I recall that tradition, not so much the parties but what our folks told us – “Remember and give thanks.” The year 2023, like other years, had its challenges. In one of his columns, Fr. Ronald Rolheiser said this about the new year: If you come to the end of a year and are still alive, then you haven’t had a bad year. If you are still within the family of faith, then you’ve had a good year, irrespective of personal sickness, economic misfortune, lost relationships, or any other tragedy. Moreover, if there’s gratitude in your heart and you can ask God for providence and protection for the coming year, you’ve entered that year on the right note. If you can follow this by expressing sincere love and best wishes for those around you (the words and embraces that say “Happy New Year”) well, that’s all a human being can do to welcome a new year properly.

This weekend, we welcome 2024. We continue to celebrate the joy of Christmas to remember that God is with us. We pray this new year will be a prosperous and healthy one for all of us. There might be bumps along the way, but our faith will keep us strong. That is why I think on the first day of every new year, we are invited to ponder on the Blessed Mother because she serves as an example of faith – a faith worthy of emulation. Mary, a woman of peace. Mary, a woman of strength. Mary, a woman of prayer. Mary, a woman of love. Mary, a true disciple of the Lord.

I join all of you in prayer. With grateful hearts we remember and give thanks for the blessings of 2023 and together we journey in faith in this new year.

May Mary, Mother of God, embrace and protect us in her maternal care.