The Many Celebrations of January 1st Author: The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D. Bishop's Blog 1 Jan 2020 Share Happy New Year! ¡Feliz Ano Novo! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! May 2020 be a year filled with many blessings for you and your family. More than Just New Year’s Day On the 1st of January, the Catholic Church celebrates not only the beginning of a new year but also Mary, as Mother of God. Pope Saint Paul VI, in his apostolic exhortation Marialis Cultus, referred to the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, as a fitting occasion for renewing adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace, for listening once more to the glad tidings of the angels (Luke 2:14), and for imploring from God, through the Queen of Peace, the supreme gift of peace. World Day of Peace Contemplating Mary as a gift and icon of peace is a perfect way to mark today’s 2020 World Day of Peace. On this 53rd World Day of Peace, Pope Francis offers the following in Peace as a Journey of Hope: Dialogue, Reconciliation, and Ecological Conversion: Peace is a great and precious value, the object of our hope and the aspiration of the entire human family. As a human attitude, our hope for peace is marked by an existential tension that makes it possible for the present, with all its difficulties, to be “lived and accepted if it leads towards a goal, if we can be sure of this goal, and if this goal is great enough to justify the effort of the journey”. Hope is thus the virtue that inspires us and keeps us moving forward, even when obstacles seem insurmountable. If anyone understood how to remain hopeful in difficult circumstances, it is our Blessed Mother. So despite our own obstacles and trials, there is still much to celebrate on this, the 1st of January, 2020. My prayer for you and your family continues to be one of the blessings of health, faith, and hope. The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is a liturgical feast day honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary’s motherhood in the wake of the birth of the baby Jesus Christ. This holiday is also the 8th day of Christmas when we conclude the Octave of Christmas. It is a holy day of obligation. Please check with your parish for the schedule of Masses or visit MassTimes.org. Happy New Year! Bishop da Cunha The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D. The Bishop of Fall River Categories In the News Press Releases and Statements Messages from The Bishop Bishop's Blog Success Stories Photo Gallery Videos Previous Next Related Posts Bishop's Blog 29 Dec 2021 Ringing in the New Year Mary, Mother of God The first day of January is not only the beginning of a new year but also the day the Church celebrates Mary, as Mother of God. … Read More Bishop's Blog 25 May 2022 May Celebrations Transitional Diaconate Ordination Four seminarians studying for the priesthood for the Fall River Diocese were ordained transitional deacons on Saturday, May 21, in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fall River. The newly … Read More Bishop's Blog 30 Apr 2020 A Time of Reflection and Prayer Reflecting on Five Years On March 20, I published A Pastoral Letter: Reflections on Five Years – Continuing the Mission, with the intent of sharing over successive weeks, each of … Read More
