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From the Pastor’s Desk
The Church has a long tradition of chanting the Te Deum Laudamus in the late afternoon or early evening of New Year’s Eve. The hymn is a way of giving thanks to God for the blessings of the year that has past as well as to invoke His providential care on all as a new year begins. In Rome, the Pope would customarily gather with all the cardinals who are resident in the city for this prayer at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus (the mother church of the Jesuits). However, Pope St. John Paul II began the custom of a major Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica on New Year’s Eve where the Te Deum was sung.
As this year draws to a close, some are probably of the mindset, “Good riddance to 2020.” But for the faithful disciple, each day is a day to be thankful to God for life as well as the most important of all of God’s gifts, our salvation in Jesus Christ. Despite all the hardships our world has experienced in 2020, let’s make sure we find even the smallest of blessings and be thankful for them.
On behalf of the priests, deacons and staff of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Augustine, a very Happy and Blessed New Year to all.
Love,
Fr. Tom