New Year Offers New Opportunities 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 St. Benedict Cathedral with many opportunities for spiritual growth.

“Fundamentally, our desire is to grow in grace as disciples of Jesus,” says Fr. Godfrey Mullen. “Practically, I’m hoping that will include a renewed emphasis on formation for all our parishioners, learning more about Jesus and loving Him more in our daily living. Depending on the progression of the pandemic, we also hope to revive so many of our practices of hospitality, giving time for people to reconnect with one another.”

With the recognition that faith formation is greatly beneficial to all parishioners — old, young, lifelong Catholics and brand-new ones — St. Benedict will offer various formation events geared toward learning more about the Church and getting to know Jesus on a deeper level.

Along with faith formation, hospitality will continue to be a strong priority at the cathedral this year.

“The parish has been focusing on hospitality for six years,” Fr. Godfrey says. “While that helps welcome people to Mass, to service, to prayer of other sorts, it also becomes a model for how we are to live our lives. In other words, genuine hospitality for Christ in our decisions, our activities, our priorities is an extremely important part of living life as a Catholic. By being welcomed, we learn to welcome Christ.”

In some ways, welcoming people into new ministries was compromised this year due to the COVID-19 crisis. However, our new Executive Assistant for the parish, Angie Wellmeier, has been able to increase parish oversight of stewardship commitments and ministry participation. Following an extended time of near-isolation for many of us, restarting our ministries has provided us with a unique opportunity to evaluate and improve upon parish activity, and parishioners are feeling a renewed sense of excitement about the connection and community that come with participation in our ministries.

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 calling us to enrich our faith by living as intentional disciples in 2021.

“While New Year's resolutions are common with many people, our progression in the work of conversion, discipleship, and stewardship is lifelong,” Fr. Godfrey says. “The new year, especially as we celebrate the Diocesan Patronal Feast of Mary, Mother of God, provides us with hope — a whole year unfolding before us, like the life of Jesus unfolded in the sights of our Blessed Mother.

“A passive view of that gift of grace needs to be invigorated by faith which gives courage, so that we might rightly step forward with all the good gifts God has given us — whether that’s giving our talents to particular ministries we’ve long been part of, or trying some new ministry, as we strive to build the Kingdom of God," he adds.