Dear Parishioners, Happy New Year! This weekend we begin the Year of Our Lord 2023. As we were reminded last month during Advent, and then again at Christmas, this is the time of year where we experience new beginnings. We look forward with hope to what awaits us in the year that stretches before us. As we do every new year, we begin the year with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Just a week ago, as we celebrated Christmas Day, we marveled at the strength and courage that Mary had as she placed her trust in God. Not exactly knowing how she was part of God’s plan of salvation, she faithfully said “yes” so that we could experience the salvation and mercy of her Son. When I teach my RCIA class every year, I remind everyone of how the early Church had to clarify that Jesus was both God and Man (as there were many heresies that claimed that Jesus was one or the other, not both). Mary therefore came to be honored over the centuries as the Mother of God. She became our intercessor, our protector, and the one who encouraged us to always follow her Son. Of all her titles that Our Lady is honored with, her title of Mother of God is the greatest honor and most significant. Let us then begin this New Year of 2023 under the guidance of Our Lady, so that she may fill our hearts with the same faith that she had. May her Son bless all of us in this New Year. Thanks for reading! Fr. Mark