We start the New Year by placing it under the care of Mary, the Mother of God. In January we celebrate with Mary as the Magi visit her son, Jesus on the Feast of Epiphany. Like the Magi, we are called to follow the star out of darkness and into the light. May the light of our Lord, Jesus Christ, guide us this month as we transition from Christmastide to Ordinary Time. And may we be blessed with Mary’s strength and courage as we go forth in faith and love.

Blessings,
Heidi Busse

Loving God, I thank you for Choosing me to be your disciple
And for the gift of your Son, Jesus.
Help me proclaim and bear witness
To the Gospel by word and by deed
Today and every day.
Open my heart to The outcast, the forgotten,
The lonely, the sick, and the poor.
Grant me the courage To think, to choose, and to live as a Christian, Joyfully obedient to God.

Amen

Adapted from the homily of Pope Francis, Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, April 14, 2013
From Take Out: Family Faith on the Go, January 2014

Everyone knows people who follow stars. Some people like to wish upon a star with the hope that their dreams will come true. Some follow the lives of celebrities and Hollywood stars and live vicariously through what they say, what they wear and what they do.

But following these kinds of stars will always leave you feeling empty and needing more. The only star that brings true joy and fulfillment is the star that the Magi followed — the star that leads to Jesus.

Read the rest of the article

For the second year in a row, Our Sunday Visitor has chosen a group of exemplary Catholics to highlight and honor due to their tireless work for the Church this calendar year and beyond. In particular, these leaders in the Faith were selected for their work with some of the most dominant issues facing the Church today, including the Affordable Care Act and the corresponding HHS Mandate, the Church’s work with the New Evangelization and the ongoing fights for both life and traditional marriage. We hope the short profiles that follow will both inspire and encourage all Catholics to more effectively live out their faith in their day-to-day lives.

Catholics of the Year include:

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Monica Fitzgibbons, Curtis Martin, Mother Delores Hart, O.S.B., Dr. Jennifer Morse, Father Tom Rosica, and Bernadette Smyth.

Read the article from the Dec. 29 issue of OSV Newsweekly here

The foundations of our faith begin in the home. This book is a handy, go-to resource for teaching basic, life-giving Catholic prayers and rediscovering the power of prayer as a family. In the morning, at the dinner table, at bedtime, or any time, Prayers for Our Catholic Family is sure to enrich your family's prayer life.

Pre-order today! Just $2.95 Order here