New Years by Alex Chartier

When we think of the New Year, we usually think of New Year's Eve parties and new year's resolutions. And actually, those are not bad thoughts to have, especially for us Christians. For New year's resolutions are a great opportunity for a good old, nice and thorough, examination of conscience. And partying is a great opportunity to go out and share the joy of our heart, which comes from Christ.

For as Christians, we ought to party and be joyful during this time of year. We have just finished spending a month of advent and now is the time to make merry and to shout with joy for the rock who saves us. Indeed, our culture tends to push us in the opposite direction. It tells us to be busy and party all through advent - exams, shopping, early staff parties...etc - and come Christmas Day, people are tired and the festivities stop. In fact, we ought to do the opposite. Christmas Day is when the party starts! We ought to have a prayerful advent (which is, I concede, often quite difficult), begin merry making on Christmas Day and keep it going all through Christmas time. The Octave of Christmas, by the way, ends with a feast in honor of Our Lady Mother of God, on New Year's Day.

I think it is important for us Christians to be aware of the liturgical calendar of the Church. Most of us are aware of the popular feasts and of the different liturgical times that go with them: Advent and the Nativity, Lent and Easter. Well and good! But what about the solemnity which falls on New Year's Day, near the end of Christmas time? I must confess I didn't know about it, or at least I wasn't consciously aware of it, until Bill asked me to do this reflection. lol. So if you are in the same boat as me, perhaps you've always celebrated the New Year without even thinking of Mary.

Perhaps, then, we would do well to remember Mary in a conscious and special way this New Year's. Perhaps we would do well to remember that it was by her free "yes" to God that God was made flesh in a cave, under a bright star, around two thousand years ago. "Yes" said Mary to God's plan for her life even though she did not at the time understand it: "How can this be?" she said to the angel. Yet, though she could not see, she heard God's voice through the angel and believed it: "For with God nothing will be impossible." So let us raise our glass to Mary this New Year's, and let us make the resolution to follow her good example; for we too are called by God, and we too may respond, like her, "fiat" (let it be done)

Joy by Steph Rezansoff

During the Christmas Season it can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and forget about the joy that it can bring if we focus on the true “reason for the season”. I know that I have struggled with being distracted by moving to a new apartment, a busy work schedule and finding time to pick up gifts for my family, but I try to remind myself often to take time to share the joy of the season with friends, family, and even strangers. I find that sharing a warm smile and a “hello’ with a stranger while passing them on the sidewalk can add so much joy to my day and hopefully to theirs as well. Another thing that brings me great joy is by sharing some of the wealth that God has blessed me with, with those who are less fortunate and Christmas time is always a perfect time to do this. Finally, one last thing that brings me joy during the Christmas Season is having the opportunity to go to midnight mass with my family, and especially with my sister, since this is about the only time of year that I get to celebrate mass with her. May God bless everyone with opportunities to share joy with one another this season.
“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you”. Psalm 5:11