Mater Dei

If there were a phrase to describe Our Lady it would be: a woman of substance! Why do I say this? Because despite any personal sufferings or misgivings, our Blessed Mother simply got on with the job! May this example inspire us for the coming year; may we remain faithful to our own "fiat".

It's important never to forget, that the title: "Mother of God" implies that the Blessed Virgin Mary is also mother to us all. We too can therefore seek her love and protection. We are then part of that same Holy Family that we celebrated only a few days ago. Let us then face this new year, not with fear or trepidation, but with acknowledgment of the mighty company we are in: Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

On this first day of the year let us join the whole Church in it's vital prayer for peace. Let's hope and work that peace finally arrives to every corner of the earth, to every home, to each single human person.

Yarm's wish: To all, Mary and Peace.

Have A Happy New Year!

Another year come and gone! If possible can I make a suggestion? An end of year is good time to re-cap. It's good to spend a few moments just thinking of all the major happenings or mis-happenings of the year gone by. This is not to praise any olympic standard records that we may have gained, or to torture ourselves in thinking of those awful and dreaded moments now gone by. The goal is simply to answer this question: after all experiences, can I honestly say that I'm a more complete human being? That's it!

After what we discover of ourselves, than let's realistically place some targets for the new coming year. We'll do it in a down to earth fashion and with generosity. At the next new year's, we'll repeat the process again and try to gain an insight of our personal progress.

This might seem somewhat clinical, yet we are ever more aware that one of our aims in life is to become better. Hopefully, better in becoming more like Christ.

Yarm's Message: Have a fruiful and happy New Year.