How much has happened in the last year! As I look back, gratitude seems like the most important response.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Christmas here beautiful, our musicians, decorators, ministers, and staff, and to everyone who invited someone to join us.

I am also grateful for the good spirit that so many people have brought to this transition, to the new people joining us, and for all the faithful people coming to one of our churches week after week.

I’m grateful to the Archbishop for giving me this assignment, to my family and friends for all the fun we’ve had together in big ways and small, and to Jesus for making me a priest, giving me life, and making me new, over and over and over again.

Finally, I’m grateful to Immaculate Mary, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Stephen Protomartyr, and all our patron saints for their prayers and good example and companionship.

We have a special Mass this week for the New Year at 11:55 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31, at IHM Church. Yes, it counts for Sunday! There is also a Mass on Monday, Jan. 1, at 8 a.m. at IHM Church for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of the Church. Also this week we are sending some people from our parish to the SEEK24 conference downtown. Please pray for them so that they come back recharged and renewed in the Holy Spirit’s fire. If you’d like to experience the prayer and learning that happens at SEEK, Wednesday evening’s Eucharistic adoration is open to all — just sign up for a free ticket at archstl.org/seek. 

We’ll have lots of new things coming towards us in the year ahead, including registration for the pilot programs for our new summer-school offerings, our first Holy Week and Easter together as a united parish, sacraments for our children, and so much more. May God bless you in the year ahead, and help us start the year remembering all his great deeds and all the good He has given us.