Each new year brings challenges and opportunities to learn from the past, to live in the present and to plan for the future. These three elements of daily life form part of the cycle of our lives. As we begin another calendar year, the opportunities to grow and change can become resolutions that focus our attention on the tasks at hand. This year, and certainly as a part of our on-going parish programs, there are some exciting directions to increase our spiritual dimensions. Each one of these suggestions present different insights or directions. Pick one (or two) and see if it can become a spiritual habit.
--Daily Mass or daily scripture readings (available on our Web site: www.stjoschatham.org/scripture.)
--Spiritual Direction or some type of daily examination or journaling
--Daily Rosary, or a really prayed single decade, a chaplet, e.g., "Lord Have Mercy x 10," or the Jesus prayer "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner," or a centering prayer.
--Morning or Evening Prayer (morning prayer after Mass at the church on M,T,Th, Fr or online HERE
--Eucharistic Adoration at St Joe's on First Fridays from 9:30-11:30am with Benediction
--Reconciilation: Saturday, 3:15-4:00pm or anytime by appointment
--Retreat; short, long, mid-week. A chance to meditate, contemplate, find God in your Life
Compared to all of those vows to exercise regularly, eat better, save money, get organized, call Mom more often, make your bed, check your language and attitudes, these spiritual improvements will pay much richer dividends. Instead of resolving to become a mystic by March, resolve instead to stretch your soul Picking any of the above will put you in a better spiritual shape. Give it a try.