Casting Crowns: “Away in a Manger”

As our Christmas celebration continues, I offer this version of Casting Crowns singing “Away in a Manger”:

Forum on Homelessness Among Connecticut’s Youth

Over 100 policy makers, legislators, activists, and youth who are or have been homeless recently gathered at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, CT, for “Invisible No More,” a policy forum on homelessness among Connecticut’s youth.

The gathering released a study, “Invisible No More,” which was the result of a year of research that included input from 98 young people who are or have been homeless. The study found that such youth often are not connected to services, and populations within the youth who are most vulnerable to housing insecurity include those who are LGBT, trafficked, and/or have some involvement with the juvenile justice or child welfare systems. Young men and boys of color are also especially vulnerable, according to the study.

Recommendations included:

• creating a planning task force to develop and recommend strategies to address housing insecurity for young people,
• developing strategies to improve the point-in-time-count of the number of housing insecure young people by increasing collaboration across Connecticut state systems and non-profit organizations and expanding the methodology used in gathering data and outreach to capture these young people,
• including the voices of all young people in the review, development, and approaches developed to address their housing needs,
• building on best practice experiences of other states, and
• increasing the supervision and training at the Connecticut state and local provider level to help providers identify and work with housing insecure young people.

To access the complete report, please visit:

Partnership for Strong Communities: Invisible No More

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the graces You bestow on us when we face what appear to be difficult challenges.

New Year’s Resolutions from Pope Francis.

In a recent article, writer Paterno Esmaquel II offered ten New Year’s resolutions that may be drawn from the teachings of Pope Francis.

These resolutions include:

• Don’t gossip.
• Finish your meals.
• Make time for others.
• Choose the “more humble” purchase.
• Meet the poor “in the flesh.”
• Stop judging others.
• Befriend those who disagree.
• Make commitments, such as marriage.
• Make it a habit to “ask the Lord.”
• Be happy.

To access the complete article, including related quotes by Pope Francis, please visit:

Rappler: New Year’s resolutions: The Pope Francis list (31 DEC 13)

Thank you, Deacon Greg Kandra, for the tip!

Reflection Starter from Edith Lovejoy Pierce

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” – Edith Lovejoy Pierce

The Gaither Vocal Band: “Mary Did You Know”:

As we continue of celebration of this holy day, I offer this version of the Gaither Vocal Band singing “Mary Did You Know”:

New Year’s Day Reflection

“Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!
I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!” – William Arthur Ward

Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions for January

The Holy Father’s prayer intentions for January are:

General intention: “That all may promote authentic economic development that respects the dignity of all peoples.”

Mission intention: “That Christians of diverse denominations may walk toward the unity desired by Christ.”

The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Today the Church celebrates the Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord, the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. The assigned readings are Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7, and Luke 2:16-21. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 67 (Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Psalm 67 – May God bless us in his mercy

The Gospel reading is as follows:

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Reflections related to these readings and this feast day:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Mary, Mother of God (January 1, 2014)

Msgr. Charles Pope: Will the Real January 1st Please Stand Up. A Homily For New Years Day and the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God (31 DEC 13)

The Deacon’s Bench: “The rest is still unwritten”: a homily for January 1, 2014, Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God (31 DEC 13)

Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio: Mary, the Mother of God?

The Sacred Page: Mary, Mother of God, a Common Protestant and Catholic Confession (31 DEC 13)

Dominicana: The New Year and the Maternity of Mary (1 JAN 14)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for this new year and for the many blessings You have waiting for us as we go forth to live each day of this year.

On Our New Year’s Resolutions and Our Dependence on God’s Grace

“New Year’s Day always struck me as something of an odd holiday. Why do we humans find it necessary to set aside a day to mark yet another full trip around the sun? Different cultures have celebrated the new year at different times: the Jewish people celebrate the new year in their liturgy on Rosh Hashanah in the early fall; for many Christians the new liturgical year begins with Advent; the Chinese celebrate between late January and late February; and the ancient Romans celebrated the new year in March. Whatever the month or the day, people of all cultures and religious traditions seem to have an innate desire, if not a need, to mark a new beginning each year.

“In our culture one of the most common ways to observe this new beginning is the making of New Year’s resolutions. These resolutions more often than not seem like an exercise in futility – we almost inevitably cave within a month or two. And yet, every year many of us pluck up our will power and try again. What are we to make of this phenomenon? The practice of New Year’s resolutions demonstrates two aspects of our human nature that are important for the spiritual life: our constant need for growth and our inability to persevere by sheer will power.”

In a recent commentary, Brother Isaac Augustine Morales, O.P., reflected on the resolutions we make and our dependence on God’s grace as we continue to live our lives.

To access Br. Isaac’s complete post, please visit:

Dominicana: New Year’s Resolutions, Confession, and the Mother of God (1 JAN 14)

Reflection Starter from John Greenleaf Whittier

“We meet today
To thank Thee for the era done,
And Thee for the opening one.” – John Greenleaf Whittier