Wishinhg Everyone A Happy, Healthy, Peace-filled New Year!

Happy New Year!

 

We begin the New Year always with the solemnity of Mary Mother of God. The readings that have been provided to us for the feast give us two models for emulation. The shepherds received the good news from the angels that a savior is born among them. They immediately left their sheep and went in search of the newborn baby. Looking up, searching eagerly and finding God in the manger in the midst of their own business was important to the shepherds. They never lost the sense of wonder.

  Another year is ending and a new year begins. The attitude of the shepherds is crucial for a successful year for all of us that we never stop seeking out this God of surprises who wish to bring light and life into our lives. May this New Year be one in which we will actively search for that God in the midst of our busy lives and having found God we may adore and worship with our minds and hearts. Mary “pondered all these things in her heart” says the evangelist. The divine son Jesus, the Word made flesh, was constantly becoming ‘food for thought’ for Mary. Amazing things were happening in her life through the intervention of God from the annunciation to visit of her cousin Elizabeth, to journey to Bethlehem, to birth in the manger, and now to the visit of the shepherds.

Let the Word become ‘food for our life’ during this New Year. Let us never stop ‘pondering’ about all that God is doing in our lives now and in the New Year.

Pope Francis calls us to be new evangelizers and Mary is the star of evangelization. How did she do it? It is by constantly opening her mind and heart to God and God’s activity in her life and surrendering to the will of God that she remained a faithful disciple of Christ. Let us turn to the examples of the shepherds and to Mary for a holy year 2015.

At the conclusion of the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) of Pope Francis, we

 

 

read this beautiful prayer:

“Mary, Virgin and Mother, you who, moved by the Holy Spirit, welcomed the Word of Life in the depths of your humble faith:

As you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One, help us to say our own "Yes" to the urgent call, as pressing as ever, to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

Filled with Christ’s presence, you brought joy to John the Baptist, making him exult in the womb of his mother.

Brimming over with joy, you sang of the great things done by God. Standing at the foot of the cross with unyielding faith, you received the joyful comfort of the Resurrection and joined the disciples in awaiting the Spirit, so that the evangelizing Church might be born.

Obtain for us now a new ardor born of the Resurrection that we may bring to all the “Gospel of Life”, which triumphs over death.

Give us a holy courage to seek new paths, that the gift of unfading beauty may reach every man and woman.

Virgin of listening and contemplation, Mother of love, Bride of the eternal wedding feast, pray for the Church, whose pure icon you are, that she may never be closed in on herself or lose her passion for establishing God’s Kingdom.

Star of the New Evangelization, help us to bear radiant witness to communion, service, ardent and generous faith, justice and love of the poor, which the joy of the Gospel may reach to the ends of the earth, illuminating even the fringes of our world.

Mother of the living Gospel, wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones, pray for us. Amen. Alleluia!”

 

A WORD OF THANKS

 

On behalf of the La Salette Missionaries, the priests, brothers, sisters and lay associates, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation and thanks to all the employees, volunteers and friends who gave their time and talent for a successful and joyful season of the Festival of lights. We have been immensely blessed with great weather and large crowds throughout the season. We thank Mary our Mother for her powerful intercession in watching over us during this special season. We thank you for your prayers and support for all our ministries here at the Shrine. For everyone who worked hard to make this mission possible we say THANK YOU.

May God bless you and yours in the New Year 2015!

                                                    Fr. Cyriac, M.S. Fr. Flavio, M.S. and Fr. Pat, M.S.