Preparing For A New Year

STOP! Stop what you are doing! Tell the secretary that you will be unavailable for at least 30 minutes. At the very least. Then take your bible, notebook and other prayer books and GO TO THE CHAPEL AND PRAY!

First, thank God for his mercies and blessings. Thank him for the opportunity to serve him and His Church. Thank him for all-yes ALL- the people that you work with. Some of them may drive you crazy, but hey, maybe they are helping you grow in humility and holiness!

Then beg God for mercy and grace for this next year. Nothing that we do is -or should be- independant of the work of Jesus Christ. How many times have we seen that things would have gone MUCH better had we turned to the Lord?? Hmmm???

Then Sit. Listen.

And Listen

And Listen.


When you get a sense of what he's trying to get through your thick noggin, write it down.
Pray also for the openness of the pastor to pray for direction of the parish, pray for anyone that you work with, pray for any of the relationships that you find most difficult to work with. Take time to examine your own life and failures (write those down and then head thee to a Confessional! Ok, I'll give you til this Saturday...).

Now, commit. Commit to turning over this ministry to the Lord each and every day. Pray for the grace to get out of the way of what God wants to do through you. Don't make him take Plan B because you got in the way! No, commit to daily handing over both your life and the work he has set out before you.

And finally ask the Saints and Angels to intercede on your behalf. Particularly, ask St Dom Bosco, St Agnes, St Maria Goretti, Papa (i.e. Pope John Paul II) and last but not least, the Blessed Mother. Hey, if all of them are up there, might as well get them prayin' for you as they are closer to God in all his glory!

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May he make his face to shine upon you. May he show you himself, and give you peace. Amen.