Resolutions & Courage
Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of Divine Providence Family of Parishes,
Happy Ordinary Time! “Ordinary Time” refers to Sundays of the year that go in order. Priests wear green vestments for these Sundays because green is the color of life. In our scripture readings, we hear about the identity of Jesus and of His holy people. He is the Lamb of God, and we are called to share in His mission to save others and to glorify God, as a light to all people. These readings give us an opportunity to reflect together on the reality of sin and darkness in our world, and the hope and promise of the good news of the Gospel. We become qualified for God’s mercy precisely because of our faults and failings. What a gift!
2026 feels like it has just begun. It’s hard for me to grasp that we are well into the new year already. Many people tend to make resolutions during the new year, to change something for the better. This is about the time when they often start to fizzle… I’d encourage you to make your resolutions as specific as possible and develop a plan to overcome the obstacles that naturally arise as a part of the process of making goals and changes. There’s a helpful method known as the WOOP method (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) that really helps with making and keeping resolutions effectively. You can learn more at www.woopmylife.org. I learned this method as part of my psychology studies, and I’ve found it to be very helpful.
Let’s resolve together to make 2026 a more enthusiastic and vital year. There are lots of signs of hope for the Church around the world; many young people are returning to the Church or joining for the first time. Though our parishes are not yet seeing that trend here, there are specific changes we can make to tap into the wave. Of course, change can be challenging and difficult. But embracing difficulty is exactly what produces enthusiasm and vitality. We don’t become more alive by taking the path of least resistance, but actually, by seeking out and overcoming obstacles.
As a convert to the Catholic faith, I lost lots of friends when I became Catholic. I started attending a new church, where I knew no one. My conversion led to painful divisions within my family as well. I know how it feels to lose a group of friends, to suffer rejection and ridicule, and to join a Church full of strangers. It’s not fun, at first, but I can promise you that it is worth it, if you do it for the sake of the Gospel. The courage to let things go, for the sake of something better, gives us vitality, not just here on earth, but everlasting vitality in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Lastly, I would like to personally thank Sister Margie for all the good work she has done at St. Bernard parish and as the Director of Love in Action for the Family of Parishes. We wish her well as she heads into retirement at the end of this month. Thank you, Sister Margie, you will be missed!
Yours in Christ, with Mary,
Fr. Henry Hoffmann
