Brothers and Sisters,
I extend greetings through Jesus Christ the Lord as we resume the ordinary — that is, Ordinary Time, which our church’s calendar marks as beginning January 10, 2023.

This transition of liturgical seasons allows us to contemplate how God enters and works in our lives. In doing so, we might automatically call to mind the “big moments,” a marriage, the birth or adoption of a child, spiritual inspiration gained after attending a retreat, or the positive impact a special person had in your life. Immediate focus on these significant moments makes sense; after all, they’re memorable because they don’t happen regularly. Yet, I’m here to gently remind you that God actively speaks to us in our everyday moments too. Still, if you’re like me, you might need some help bringing the power behind a commonplace moment into perspective. That’s where prayer and conversation come in. Consider taking a moment at your dinner table to ask yourself, your family members, or your friends about any little moments that could be bigger than they appear. Then, the next time you pray, ask the Holy Spirit for help so you can be more attentive to His promptings and see how the Lord is trying to draw closer to you, no matter the month of the year or the day of the week.

I also encourage our entire parish community to remain steadfast in your prayers, fasting, and service to build an authentic culture of life. Indeed, a society that reveres the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death can only exist under like-minded governance. Nevertheless, a conversion of minds and hearts among all people is required for our world to stand united in validating the immeasurable value of life. Honoring and protecting life, as created in the image and likeness of God, challenges us to speak up for the voiceless and powerless: the unborn, the poor, the migrant, the ill, the elderly, the intellectually disabled, and the dying. The National March for Life in our nation’s capital has been an excellent vehicle for those to bear witness to the sanctity of life. This year’s event will take place on Friday, January 20, and will include dynamic speakers and compassionate and passionate pro-Lifers; consider joining us in DC and visit marchforlife.org. A wonderful religious community, the Sisters for Life, alongside the Knights of Columbus, is sponsoring Life Fest, a pre-even before the actual March; visit LifeFest2023.com to register.

And finally, with individual states garnering significant impact in advancing pro-life legislation, please keep our home state in your hearts, prayers, and penances so that Maryland may become a true safe haven for all life. To that end, there will be a critical Maryland March for Life gathering on Monday, February 27, at 5 pm at St. Mary in Annapolis. Register at mdmarchforlife.com.