As part of the Archdiocese of Boston’s Pastoral Planning Process, parish lay leaders and staff members are undertaking a self-examination of how Holy Family Parish should carry on its mission in the years ahead with a renewed emphasis on evangelization. A parish pastoral plan writing team has begun looking at areas of strength and need for growth within our parish. Presently, the team has proposed a Vision Statement that will help us all - parishioners and staff members - focus our mission, and guide us to identify areas that will help us better fulfill it.

Many more people are dying at home rather than the hospital these days thanks to the great work of hospice care. The Catholic Church offers wonderful spiritual and emotional support to those facing their end. However, unless this support is offered soon enough, it will not be all that helpful to the dying person. The Rite of Pastoral Care of the Sick explains, “Priests and other ministers entrusted with the spiritual care of the sick should do everything they can to ensure that those in proximate danger of death receive the body and blood of Christ in viaticum.” #176. But, to do this a priest needs to be notified early in the dying process.

There’s been a lot of contentiousness in our society these days – on many fronts. Some of it is sparked by a growing fatigue with the pandemic and the irritability around having to wear masks when indoors in many places – even in church. Then, there are the political divisions that have affected relationships among family members and friends, and in some cases, have pitted vaxers against anti-vaxers, not to mention the differences between a conservative outlook as opposed to a liberal outlook. Unfortunately, along with these differences has been a growing tendency to demonize the other. The lack of civility, which has been growing for many years, has only been amplified in such a climate.

As Catholics, we proclaim that human life is a precious gift from God; that each person who receives this gift has responsibilities toward God, self and others; and that society, through its laws and social institutions, must protect and nurture human life at every stage of its existence. Citizens from all walks of life and religious backgrounds will join together in support of the intrinsic right to life of all people, born and unborn, to participate in the National March for Life in Washington DC on January 21, 2022. This date marks the vigil of the 49th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, which made abortion legal in our country. To learn more about this march, visit http://marchforlife.org.

The start of a new year often prompts us to look back at what was, as well as to look ahead at what possibilities there might be. Besides the resolutions to shed the pounds added over time or to recommit to personal goals left unmet, a faith-focused approach to the new year could make quite a difference in how our days ahead unfold.