While much of the world marks the new beginning of the calendar year, the Church commemorates the great solemnity of the Mother of God.

What does this mean?

Having served on many professional international standard setting boards at the U.N. and on global organizations including the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), International Accounting Standards Committee, and IFAC’s Board, as Chair of the U.N. Committee on accounting and reporting Standards, on the panel of experts of the World Intellectual Property Organization at the UN, WTO’s Panel of Experts, Education Quality Councils, in addition to others, I ended up firmly convinced that professionalizing any trade is self-serving.

Fr. Antony Kadavil reflects and comments on the readings at Mass for the feast of Mary Mother of God. He says that the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God is a very appropriate way to begin a new year, reminding us to rely on the powerful intercession of our Heavenly Mother.

Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21

As we celebrate the great feast of the Holy Family, today’s first reading reflects the great importance of the Fourth Commandment: “Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” The reading from Sirach, like the commandment, gives a promise to those who faithfully observe the law — several promises, actually: atonement for sins, answered prayers, riches, children and a long life.

Advent and Christmas is a most wonderful time of the year — and laden with stress if we let it. But lists that grow, shopping fatigue, bad assembly directions and too much eggnog all have a reset button. If we stop to take a breath, we can ask the saints of Christmas to pray for us to be filled with the peace and joy that God intended for the season.

Even if things are rolling along smoothly, life is always better with intercessors who made it to heaven by keeping a divine perspective. Here are some saints of Christmas to call upon.

Our Blessed Mother

Advent and Christmas fill my mind with so many words and images.

I think of millions of children born into searing poverty, particularly those living in refugee camps and those without basic amenities.

I think about 'the coming of our God' who chose similar circumstances for his taking up the flesh of our humanity.

I think about the angels whose glorious appearance would certainly have won them four straight tens!

But my mind stays with the image of that wondrous birth, so often portrayed in art, in music and poetry.

In his recent address to members of the Roman Curia, Pope Francis recalls that we are no longer living in a Christian world, and speaks of the need for pastoral conversion and being authentic missionaries.

Pope Francis’ discourse to the Roman Curia on Saturday 21 December, was important both in terms of what he said, and how he said it. Recognizing something that was already evident to several great men of the Church even before the Second Vatican Council, the Pope confirmed that: "Christendom no longer exists”.

In 2019 Pope Francis made seven international Apostolic Journeys to 11 countries. His has been an “itinerant pontificate” that has focused on the world’s geographical and existential peripheries.

“I'll tell you something: I don't like to travel.” These are the surprising words that Pope Francis pronounced on June 9 when addressing a group of children whom he received in the Vatican as part of the “Children's Train” initiative.

For 10 years, I lived in Ukiah, California (population 16,036), in a little cottage situated between St. Peter’s Eastern Catholic Church on the one side and a dilapidated footbridge where homeless people frequently gathered and occasionally slept on the other.

Ukiah has one of the highest homeless rates in the nation. As a 73-year-old widow living alone, I tried to discern who it was safe to talk to, who to ignore, and when it was time to call the police.

While there, I came to meet and know many homeless people. Here’s a little story I wrote about my experience.

I have always loved Advent. Even as a child, I was filled with the aching wonder of the season when my dad would lead us in singing O Come, O Come Emmanuel to the glow of the Advent wreath in the dark kitchen before dinner. My husband tells me the real reason that I love Advent is because of my melancholic temperament, for I love the feel of quiet waiting and planning with a twinge of sadness before we reach the festive joy of Christmas. We have sorrow in the fact that we are sinners and need a Savior to suffer and die for us.