Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger | Diocese of Tucson website

Jan 19, 2024

By Archbishop José H. Gomez

As we embark on a new year, it is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. This sentiment resonates deeply with Catholics, as our faith is a constant journey of beginning and beginning again. Archbishop José H. Gomez reflects on the beauty of our Catholic story and encourages us to embrace it with renewed faith and devotion in the year 2024.

During the Christmas season, Archbishop Gomez pondered the significance of our Catholic faith and the narrative of love that it encompasses. He reminds us that as Catholics, we are part of a great story of salvation history, where God Himself came down to live among us in the form of Jesus. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus revealed the depths of God's love and showed us the path to follow as children of God.

"Our Catholic story gives our lives 'roots' in the spiritual family we call the church," says Archbishop Gomez. It is a narrative that provides us with a sense of identity, purpose, and direction. It tells us who we are, why we are here, and how we should live. In a world where the Catholic and Judeo-Christian stories are increasingly rejected, this becomes a challenge for us as Catholics. But it is precisely in these times that we need to return to our story and be renewed in its truth and promises.

At the heart of our Catholic story is a personal love story between God and humanity. God's love for us is unconditional and all-encompassing. He simply wants to live with us and be our friend. If we accept His love and live according to His teachings, we can become like Him and experience the joy of an abundant life.

To deepen our faith in the power of our Catholic story, Archbishop Gomez suggests a practical approach – a deeper devotion to the Eucharist. In the celebration of the Eucharist, we encounter the living God and are reminded of our ancestors' prayers, stories from the Scriptures, and the words of Jesus Himself. Each Eucharistic prayer retells the story of Jesus' sacrifice of love and communicates that love to us. Therefore, let us make the celebration of Holy Mass and the encounter with the living God the heart of our lives in this coming year.

In closing, Archbishop Gomez asks for prayers and assures us of his own. He also calls upon the intercession of the Blessed Mother Mary to help us tell the story of her Son with renewed joy, confidence, and courage, especially to our young people.

As we enter 2024, let us heed the words of Archbishop José H. Gomez and embrace our Catholic story with deep faith and devotion. It is a story that gives our lives meaning, purpose, and direction. It is a story that invites us to love God and others as He loves us. May this year be a year of renewal and growth in our Catholic faith, and may we share this story with all those around us.