January 1st: Mary the Mother of God 2022

 

“Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”

 

I want to issue a challenge to all men: pray the rosary every day

 

And if you have a family, LEAD them in the rosary every night

 

Pray the rosary and also bring your family to Mass.

 

A study found that if a father does not go to church, only one child in 50 will become a regular worshipper. If a father does go regularly, three-quarters of their children will become churchgoers.

 

Fathers need to take their family to Church every Sunday and Holy Day (unless you are sick or caring for someone who is sick), but also, as a way to make the transition easier, I also want to challenge in a particular way families, but everyone, to pray the Rosary daily.

 

Mass can seem unintelligible to both young and old, and so, in addition to the Mass, the rosary can provide a wonderful supplement for a couple of reasons.

 

1) While at Mass it is true that everyone is participating, the priest is the presider, while at the family rosary, the Father can take the lead.

 

Secondly, what we hear in our Gospel today, about how Mary kept all these things and ponder them in Her heart, Mary was an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry, and so the rosary is a great way to tap into those fruits of Mary’s ponderings!

 

I challenge all men in the parish to make Catholicism their top priority, and if you have a family, to bring your family to Mass every Sunday and Holy Day (unless sick or caring for someone who is sick), and to lead your family in a nightly rosary.  It will transform your family and our parish!