HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone. May we all grow closer to Jesus and His holy Mother in this new year. May many many conversions be seen--especially in our families but also in the Church and the world. " How lovely on the mountain are the feet of him Who brings good news Proclaiming peace and joy and happiness Our God reigns!"
Happy New Year. Our Priest spontaneously offered Adoration after Mass. Our God of surprises! What a gift to start the New Year with Jesus in this way. Alyce and I prayed for blessings for you all.
A Blessed start to 2026 to everyone on the MOG forum and all visitors. Geralyn and I will be hunkering down. We have a foot of snow currently on the ground; tonight we have an incoming storm that will dump about another 20". East of Lake Ontario is grand! A warm-up next week into the 30s with a slow meltdown. O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to you!
A great read... good advice and guidance from St. Don Bosco: Seven Recommendations on How to Live a Holy Life By Fr. Steve Ryan, SDB Here is some advice from Don Bosco on how to stay joyful and strive for sanctity throughout 2026. Looking at these quotes from Don Bosco, maybe his advice can keep us on track toward becoming saints. In these winter months and at the start of a new year we all could use a pep talk like this to push us forward and to overcome our anxieties and the doldrums that we are facing. Live for God alone… “Give God the greatest possible glory and honor Him with your whole soul.” – Don Bosco For 2026 think ‘God, God, God’ – everyday and always. We get caught up in ‘me, me, me’ too much. It’s time to change our mindset. Focus on God by daily prayer and try to keep it going all day, even when the pressure is on. When we get too focused on only accomplishing the next task, we tend to block out God. Why not try to live the day with the question ‘What’s next God? What can we tackle together?’ Why leave Him out of the equation? In truth, God’s not even the co-pilot – He’s flying the plane, He’s driving the car. Stay in union with God! Don’t compartmentalize faith and life. Bring God with you always and everywhere. Be a servant… “Serve others with joy. God loves a cheerful giver. My friends, above all, be willing to serve others. Be more demanding of yourself than of others.” – Don Bosco The growth of the ‘ugly narcissist’ occurs when we stop seeing the needs of others. Charity and service make us whole and holy. When we keep going inward and processing everything with the thought of how it’s going to affect me, we become less generous. Selfishness and self-pity close off room for growth. Having a servant’s heart prevents that inward shutdown. The best habit we can form is a generous attitude: ‘What can I do to help?’ Look, the way to stop feeling sorry for yourself when you are having a hard time is to go out and do something good for others. If you look at the generosity of the saints as an example, you might even conclude that, if they never ran out of gas for doing good for others, then maybe – by God’s grace – neither will I. Be careful in your associations… “Do not trust those who have no faith in God and who do not obey His precepts. Those who have no scruples in offending God and who do not give Him what they should will have fewer scruples in offending you and even betraying you when it is convenient for them.” – Don Bosco Does this mean that we should totally ignore people who are faithless? Or that we can’t be friends with non-Catholics/Christians? No, not really, but be careful. Don’t let fools lure you into a secular lifestyle. Many people who at one time had strong faith, have forgotten who they are! By just going along to get along, they’ve lost their Christian virtue. Please be mindful of who you give your time to, who you give your heart to, and who you give your ears to. Are you rubbing off on them or are they rubbing off on you? Spend carefully… “If you do not wish to be ruined, never spend more than you earn. You should bear this in mind and always measure your true possibilities accurately.” – Don Bosco If you can’t pay off that credit card bill in full each month, then maybe you need to reconsider your finances. Studies show that the #1 cause of divorce and division in marriage is money problems. You are the consumer and possessor of things – don’t let things consume and possess you. Many a good person who started chasing possessions and comforts has pushed God aside. I hope you all have or get what you need to live a good life… and even be comfortable, but remember the words of scripture: “You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Materialism can break off the pursuit of holiness. Be humble… “Be humble. Speak little of yourself and never praise yourself before anyone. He who praises himself, even if he has real merit, risks losing the good opinion of others. He who seeks only praise and honors is sure to have an empty head fed only by wind…, will have no peace of soul and will be unreliable in his undertakings.” – Don Bosco Pride definitely gets in the way, and often. Even when we are sincere about serving the Lord and serving others, we like to be recognized and appreciated. Please be careful with your ego. There is a big difference between being self-confident and being conceited. Remember to be humble. Humility tames our foolish pride and it’s actually a good thing for us when at times things go wrong, when we don’t get our way or receive recognition. In the emptiness and hurt that we experience, we have the opportunity to let God in! Humility really only comes when we recognize God’s love for us. He fills our heart with such generous goodness that we no longer need our egos stroked and can accept life’s injustices and disappointments. Carry your cross… “Carry your cross on your back and take it as it comes, small or large, whether from friends or enemies and of whatever wood it be made. The most intelligent and happiest of men is he who, knowing that he is doomed to carry the cross throughout life, willingly and resignedly accepts the one God sends him.” – Don Bosco Joy does not mean being blissfully happy all the time. We can remain joyful and at peace even in times of trial and tribulation. Carrying a personal cross (of a hurt relationship, a terrible disappointment, a sickness, an addiction, a label or a bad deal) does not mean you can’t be joyful or thrive in life. It means that you’ve been given a cross to carry. It’s a sharing in the Cross of Christ and part of the package for a follower of Jesus. You can still be joyful when there’s pain. Joy reflects hope, not its shadow – despair. So… choose joy even when it seems that the cross you are given is a hard one. Don Bosco teaches us to choose to be joyful in tough times. If we truly believe that God’s Love conquers all, we must face each day with joy, even when things feel dark. Do your duties well… “Do the ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Do the next loving thing. When it’s time to pray–pray, to work–work, to study–study. Do the right thing at the right time in your ordinary life.” – Don Bosco Just take care of your responsibilities in your state in life, and do what you’re supposed to do. Avoid distractions that will take you away from your primary duties. Avoid shortcuts due to laziness. Stop procrastinating what needs to be done. 2026 is here. Let’s keep walking the journey to heaven. Still want to be a saint? Well, do something about it.
May we all astonish each other by becoming great saints this year. It the child saints can become saints in a short time why can we not in 2026? Here's hoping. If I had any advice to anyone for the New year its something I learnt anew yery much in 2025 here in Spain. If you feel lonely, or sad, or lost, or confused, or troubled, or challenged or negative. Turn at once to Jesus in prayer. Stay with Him there. Take it to the Lord in prayer.
