Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

Happy New Year! How blessed and how fortunate we are to see a New Year. In 2022, God blessed us with a new faith community: St. Josephine Bakhita Mission Parish. As we step into the New year, what will be our New Year’s Resolution as a faith community? In the name of Jesus Christ, our New Year’s Resolution as a faith community is to help St. Josephine Bakhita Mission Parish grow abundantly in number and in holiness for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. In Jesus' name, this is our New Year’s Resolution for 2023. What do we need to do to accomplish our New Year’s Resolution?

1. We need to pray for this intention personally and as a community. Always remember, nothing happens without prayer. However, the contrary is true: everything happens with prayer. Christ affirmed clearly in Scripture:

“Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

— John 14:14

2. Every week, we need to invite at least one person to participate in our Sunday Gospel Mass. To invite at least one person weekly is not demanding, if done with love and faith in Jesus' Holy Name. To invite someone to God’s House to worship is a genuine expression of love for the other person. To invite someone to Church is to desire for them the greatest good: God. To invite someone to Mass is an expression of a living faith in Jesus Christ. St. Paul said it best:

“I believed, therefore I spoke.”

— 2 Corinthians 4:13

3. We need to witness to Jesus Christ through service. By serving, we tell the world that our faith is real. It expresses itself in loving action, especially for those in most need. Service is attractive when done for love of God and our neighbor. As a faith community, may we imitate the Servant King, Jesus Christ. St. James understood the relationship between faith and works. He put it like this:

“But someone will say, ‘You have faith. I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”

— James 2:18

In short, for our community to grow in numbers and in holiness we need to give the example of service in Jesus' name.

As a faith family, may we entrust this New Year’s Resolution to the powerful and maternal intercession of Mary, the Mother of God, that she may help us make our New Year resolution a reality. Let the Church say Amen!

Peace and blessings,
Fr. Andrew McNair
Pastor
St. Josephine Bakhita Mission Parish