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OSV4Me  Teaching Catholic Kids  TCK Past Months  January 2012  Catechist Know-How January 2012  Print this article

A Fresh New Start for 2012

Catechist Know-how January 2012

By Mary Lou Rosien

The beginning of a new year is always a good time to take inventory of our lives.  What did we accomplish in the previous year?  What did we learn?  What do we need to do next?

When I look back, it often helps me to clarify what I need to do to move forward.  As some doors have closed, others have opened and I need to be ready to take the risk and walk through.  Spiritually, we should also prepare ourselves for the challenges of the new year. 

Advent and Christmas have been a time of reflection and joy, so as we ‘come back to earth’ how do we continue to bring that light into 2012?

    •        Start a new faith habit. Consider adding a daily Mass into your week, joining a new committee a church, starting a prayer journal, or signing up for a religious retreat.  Make time for God a priority in the new year and adjust schedules accordingly.

    •       Begin the new year with Confession.  A priest friend once said to me, “All the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again, but God can make anyone whole through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.”  What better way to help correct our bad habits then by obtaining the grace that the sacrament provides to help us overcome them.  Through Confession, we obtaining both actual grace to help us correct our bad behaviors and sanctifying grace which brings us back into accordance with God.  What a gift to give ourselves after we are done unwrapping all our other Christmas gifts!

    •       Make Lemonade.  Take a look at all the negatives in the previous year and see if you can find some positive opportunities in them.  Were you laid off? Perhaps you have a little time to volunteer somewhere until you find employment.  Did you lose a loved one?  When the pain is a little less acute, consider making a memory book of that person, or even give support to someone else who may be grieving.  If you lost a friend through disagreement or a difficult situation, reach out and ask for/offer forgiveness.

    •       Take on a new challenge.  A new year can be a great time to try to learn a new skill, apply for a new job or challenge ourselves in some other way.  My oldest daughter is beginning 2012 by going on a mission trip to Haiti.  It will be the first mission trip outside the U.S. she has ever participated in.  It is a little frightening for all of us, but she feels strongly that this is where the Lord is leading her right now.  Her dedication has strengthened my own resolve to open my heart to the new challenges the Lord might be asking me to take on.

May God bless you and keep you this year and always.  May He open all our hearts to the challenges He wants us to provide.

Mary Lou Rosien writes from outside Rochester, NY. She is the author of Managing Stress with the Help of Your Catholic Faith (OSV) and, Catholic Family Boot Camp (Bezalel Books). Check out her website, or contact her at http://www.catholicfamilybootcamp.com/.

A Fresh New Start for 2012

Catechist Know-how January 2012

By Mary Lou Rosien

The beginning of a new year is always a good time to take inventory of our lives.  What did we accomplish in the previous year?  What did we learn?  What do we need to do next?

When I look back, it often helps me to clarify what I need to do to move forward.  As some doors have closed, others have opened and I need to be ready to take the risk and walk through.  Spiritually, we should also prepare ourselves for the challenges of the new year. 

Advent and Christmas have been a time of reflection and joy, so as we ‘come back to earth’ how do we continue to bring that light into 2012?

    •        Start a new faith habit. Consider adding a daily Mass into your week, joining a new committee a church, starting a prayer journal, or signing up for a religious retreat.  Make time for God a priority in the new year and adjust schedules accordingly.

    •       Begin the new year with Confession.  A priest friend once said to me, “All the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again, but God can make anyone whole through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.”  What better way to help correct our bad habits then by obtaining the grace that the sacrament provides to help us overcome them.  Through Confession, we obtaining both actual grace to help us correct our bad behaviors and sanctifying grace which brings us back into accordance with God.  What a gift to give ourselves after we are done unwrapping all our other Christmas gifts!

    •       Make Lemonade.  Take a look at all the negatives in the previous year and see if you can find some positive opportunities in them.  Were you laid off? Perhaps you have a little time to volunteer somewhere until you find employment.  Did you lose a loved one?  When the pain is a little less acute, consider making a memory book of that person, or even give support to someone else who may be grieving.  If you lost a friend through disagreement or a difficult situation, reach out and ask for/offer forgiveness.

    •       Take on a new challenge.  A new year can be a great time to try to learn a new skill, apply for a new job or challenge ourselves in some other way.  My oldest daughter is beginning 2012 by going on a mission trip to Haiti.  It will be the first mission trip outside the U.S. she has ever participated in.  It is a little frightening for all of us, but she feels strongly that this is where the Lord is leading her right now.  Her dedication has strengthened my own resolve to open my heart to the new challenges the Lord might be asking me to take on.

May God bless you and keep you this year and always.  May He open all our hearts to the challenges He wants us to provide.

Mary Lou Rosien writes from outside Rochester, NY. She is the author of Managing Stress with the Help of Your Catholic Faith (OSV) and, Catholic Family Boot Camp (Bezalel Books). Check out her website, or contact her at http://www.catholicfamilybootcamp.com/.

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Catholic Faith Resources | For Catholic Parishes | Order OSV Products | RSS | Advertise | About Us | Contact Us | Jobs
Copyright © 1996-2013, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.  All rights reserved. Copyright information | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy