Do you believe this?

The ashes of 2024 are already growing cold. Yet, in this Jubilee year of Hope, there is still a glow from the past. Good resolutions can be reignited, and fervor restarted, but only if the burnt-out old habits of lazy, self-satisfaction are left behind. It is virtue alone that can carry forward the good resolutions for the new year. Whence comes the strength for a restart, for sustained virtue? Since only God can affect authentic renewal, it is God alone who inflames the embers of Faith, renewing resolve in the thurible of discipleship. St George Preca reminded his friends that the prayer of thanksgiving is constantly accompanied by a humble plea for mercy: “Thank you, Lord Jesus; forgive me, Lord Jesus”. In gratitude and in humility, we turn to God in prayer asking, through the Divine Wounds, that he grant what is needed to restart our lives, our communities of faith. Our good intentions are strengthened by the hidden virtue of courage, which is a virtue of the heart. It is in the Sacred Heart of Jesus that the rhythm of holiness in our prayers, work, and vocation is restarted. In 2025, can we find the courage in our own hearts to receive the Love of Jesus? Ruth D. Lasserter Friend of the SDC Indiana, US

Every individual, in one way or another, requires the virtue of hope. In daily life, we frequently place our hope in people and things, such as in pilots, who ensure a safe flight of an aeroplane, and in cooks, who prepare our food. However, for us Christians, hope transcends human abilities. Therefore, as faithful Christians, we are called to place our hope in the Lord, as the prophet Micah exhorts. Why is hope necessary? The book of Isaiah describes it beautifully. It reminds us that “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength… they will soar on wings like eagles… they will run and not grow weary… they will walk and not be faint” (Is 40:31). Through hope, we find a purpose to live out our faith. No saint has ever been without hope in the glory of God. St. Paul, who speaks of this theological virtue more than anyone else in the Bible, emphasises that hope is essential to prevent our sorrows from hardening into despair. He urges us to "rejoice in hope" (Romans 12:12), because through hope, we begin to experience the blessings of heaven even in this life. We must also acknowledge the importance of hope as highlighted by Pope Francis, who chose this theme for the Jubilee. The Pope names the Bull of Indiction: Spes Non Confundit, meaning that hope does not disappoint, drawn from the words of the St. Paul. The Pope encourages us to become "tangible signs of hope for so many of our brothers and sisters who are living in difficult circumstances" (10). He further reminds us that “hope perseveres in the midst of trials: founded on faith and nurtured by charity" (3). Thus, in this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us examine our souls and ask ourselves: Do we place our hope in people or in God? Are we living as witnesses of hope in the Lord? Jake Bezzina SDC Kandidat

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16) From the 18th to the 25th of January, we celebrate a week of prayer for the unity of the Christian churches. As from the beginning, those who came to Jesus, belonged to one Church, with the Pope as their head. However, over time, some churches separated and no longer remained within the Catholic faith. It is Jesus' own desire that all Christians be united. At the Last Supper, he prayed for there to be "one fold and one shepherd". This is why this week is referred to as the 'Ecumenical Week', a term derived from Greek, meaning the whole inhabited world. It is a week dedicated to reflecting on the importance of fostering unity among Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians; all of whom share belief in God the Father, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit. We regard all Christians as brothers and sisters in the Lord because, beyond our shared acknowledgment of Jesus as our brother, there are many elements that unite us. These include our shared faith, the celebration of the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and above all, love, which should bring us closer together as one family. Let us pray with St George Preca: Lord God the Father, look upon the vineyard that your dear Son has redeemed with His blood, and bless it with the dew of your grace, so that it may grow in the number of the faithful, in the love of good instruction, and in true peace and charity. Confident of Your mercy, we offer You the suffering of Your Son, Christ Jesus, who has merited your grace for all humanity. Amen.

André Bessette, born Alfred Bessette on 9 August 1845 in Quebec, Canada, was the eighth of twelve siblings. At the age of twelve, he lost both of his parents and had to work independently in the United States. At 25, he returned to Quebec, where the parish priest encouraged him to pursue a religious vocation and referred him to the priests of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. However, after a year as a novice, he was not accepted due to his frail health, which had troubled him since childhood. Following the recommendation of Bishop Bourget, the Congregation accepted him, and André remained with them for the rest of his life. His superiors were doubtful of his abilities and thus assigned him minor roles, such as doorkeeping at the College of Notre-Dame in Montreal, washing clothes, and acting as a sacristan or messenger. Despite all this, he was undeterred, saying: “When I joined this community, the superiors sent me to the door, and I stayed there for forty years.” St André had great devotion to St Joseph, which led him to request funds from the bishop to build a chapel dedicated to him on Mount Royal. The bishop granted him permission but refused to provide any funds. Undiscouraged, André built the chapel with the money he had saved over time. He continued developing the chapel and added rooms for priests who would look after the sanctuary. By the end of his life, the chapel had developed into a basilica, which remains the largest church in Canada and one of the largest domes in the world to this day. St André passed away on 6 January 1937 at the age of 91. He was canonised on 17 October 2010, becoming the first saint of the congregation. Notwithstanding the criticism and mistrust during his life, no one succeeded in stopping St André from doing the will of God. This sets an example for us to never lose heart and trust in God to fulfil His divine will. Daniel Cardona SDC Candidate

The feast of the Baptism of Jesus invites us to reflect on our own Baptism. With a humble heart, Jesus joins the people of His time in receiving Baptism from John the Baptist. This marks the third epiphany, where God reveals Himself through Jesus. God's voice declares, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased”. It is truly inspiring to witness Jesus as God, finding delight in being close to his people. Through Jesus, God the Father invites us into a unique and intimate relationship with him. Take this moment to reflect on your connection with God. Do you feel his love in your life? Can you see his face in the faces of others? Are you open to hearing his voice? A meaningful way to remember our bond with God is by recalling the date of our Baptism, the day we were born into the Spirit and the Catholic Church. Pope Francis encourages us to celebrate this important day, when we became children of God. The Baptism of Jesus reminds us that God is not distant but near, walking with us on our journey toward the Father.

Henri Nouwen’s The Genesee Diary: Report from a Trappist Monastery, is a heartfelt account of the seven months he spent at the Abbey of the Genesee, a Trappist monastery in New York. As a Catholic priest and teacher, Nouwen takes a break from his busy life to focus on prayer and self-reflection. In this diary, he shares his struggles with doubt, fear, and his longing to grow closer to God. The monastery’s daily rhythm of prayer, work, and silence becomes both a challenge and a source of strength as he learns to slow down and listen to his inner thoughts. Through his reflections, readers witness his deep wrestling with questions of identity, purpose, and faith. His journey inspires us to rethink our own lives and recognize the importance of stepping away from distractions to reconnect with what truly matters. This book is often seen as motivational because Nouwen explores profound spiritual ideas in a way that feels authentic and easy to relate to. He vividly describes the simplicity of monastic life, showing both its serenity and its challenges. His writing is honest and reflective, touching on universal emotions like loneliness, the need for connection, and the pursuit of inner peace. By the end of his time at the monastery, Nouwen finds a renewed sense of trust in God and a deeper understanding of humility and grace. The Genesee Diary is much more than a record of spiritual reflection; it is an invitation to seek peace and greater clarity in one’s own life.

At Epiphany, we celebrate Jesus’ revelation to humanity, an event marked by the visit of the Magi. Yet, we also remember that Jesus continued to reveal himself at his baptism, on Mount Tabor, through his miracles, at Golgotha, and most impressively in his resurrection from the dead. As St John proclaims, “and we have seen his glory” (John 1:14). This glory radiates into the hearts of all who welcome his light, dispelling the darkness of sin. Like the Magi, Jesus invites us to recognise him as our King, worship him wholeheartedly as our God, and surrender our wills entirely to him. As we journey through life, let us seek the grace to know and love him more deeply. This is the purpose of our existance, that is, to live in a vibrant and beautiful relationship with him. St Augustine teaches us that the search for our beloved Jesus is life’s greatest adventure, and finding him is its ultimate fulfillment. Lord God, this is eternal life, that we may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Enlighten our minds, so that through your grace we may come to know you and Jesus Christ himself, and hence we can enjoy eternal life. Amen. (Praeconia, St George Preca)