New Year Brings Both Hope and Opportunity for Growth as Disciples of Christ

There is something undeniably exciting about the hope and optimism that come with the beginning of a new year. Following the season of preparation during Advent and the joyous celebration of the birth of Christ, we are invited to pause once more and reflect upon our goals and dreams for the coming year. As a parish, we look forward to continuing to provide the faithful of Ascension with many opportunities for spiritual growth.

Deacon John Paul Martin views the new year as a particularly unique time to take stock of our faith lives and begin a process of renewal.

“The New Year can be a renewal, a rejuvenation of our faith,” he says. “Of course, every day is a good day to do that, but along with those secular resolutions, you could say, ‘I’m going to try to attend a daily Mass even once a week’ or ‘I’m going to try to attend Adoration.’ We don’t need to wait until Jan. 1 to do that because God is always waiting with open arms, but often we do tend to wait for a new birthday or Jan. 1 to start something.”

With the recognition that faith formation is greatly beneficial to all parishioners — old, young, lifelong Catholics and brand-new ones — Ascension hopes to build upon the existing opportunities for faith formation this year. The Kindergarten through 9th grade Wednesday evening classes will continue to be offered both in-person and online. Also, Faith Formation Director Blane Schriock plans on increasing the activity of both the middle school and high school youth groups.

“Middle school and high school are a key transition point,” he says. “This is when they are forming opinions on God, the faith, and Catholicism. If we don’t step in to guide them, they will have nothing to support their faith life. They need to both know and love the faith, and if we have a young Catholic community for them, it will root them in the faith.”

Adult faith formation will also remain a priority at Ascension.

“We’re not done being formed until the day we die,” Blane says. “We want people to have the richest and best experience of their lives here on earth so they can get ready for that world to come. As adults, we still have the ability and the responsibility to form ourselves in the faith.”

A new year is always a fitting time to step back and take stock of our lives and where we hope to be 12 months from now. As Catholics, this process includes a prayerful discernment of how Christ might be inviting us to enrich our faith by living as intentional disciples in 2021. For many, this may be the year that God is asking us to step out of our comfort zones and participate in the many opportunities for spiritual growth offered at Ascension.

“Never lose hope,” Blane says. “It’s easy to feel despair and think things are overwhelming but we need to step out of the boat just as Peter did. He was overwhelmed and had no hope, and Jesus called him to take the first step. Once you do that and take that step with Him, you realize you can walk on water.”

Indeed, following the challenging times that came with the onset of a global pandemic last year, we are called to face the days ahead with great faith and hope — may 2021 be the year that we choose hope over despair and jump fully into our faith!

“Do not despair,” Deacon John Paul says. “Continue to be careful, yes. But do not despair and do not fear. Everything will be okay. We always have to hold out hope. No matter how dark life may seem, there is always hope, and that comes to us in the light of Christ. We just need to keep praying.”