A year ago, on Ash Wednesday, Our Lady of Peace launched a new venture to foster small group participation in our community. Three new small groups began meeting during Lent and have continued to meet regularly since then. The groups have ebbed and flowed in size, and about 30 people have been impacted by their small groups. Some small group members have generously shared their small group's impact on their lives in the last year.

As summer approaches, so does my third anniversary of working at Our Lady of Peace. The time has flown by, and the experience of working at a Catholic parish has been fulfilling, rewarding, and challenging. I’ve learned a great deal about myself and the Catholic faith. One area of job responsibilities that  I would have never imagined being consumed (in a positive way) by is my role in preparing individuals and families for baptism. 

Presentation of the Lord, also called Candlemas, is an ancient Solemnity in the Catholic Church. It falls on February 2, 40 days after Christmas, and this is no accident. Forty days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple.

Many of the special events we celebrate happen on a yearly basis. We mark birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Similarly, the Church has holy days each year to mark the significant events in the life of Jesus and the feast days of saints. In addition to this, we all know the importance of celebrating milestones that happen less frequently. A 75th birthday or a 50th wedding anniversary is an occasion worthy of extra-special festivities. The Catholic Church does a similar thing, holding a Jubilee (or Holy Year) every 25 years. In fact, Pope Francis inaugurated the next Jubilee on December 24, 2024.