Happy New Year, friend!

I love maps and I love calendars because they show you where you are and where you are going. I want to share some of where we are going with Bon Secours Young Adults this year. There are the fun events like World Youth Day in Panama, and Panama in the Capital in Washington DC, on January 26. The two annual Farm Retreat Weekends, in February (15-18) and in August (2-4). The Bon Secours Family Reunion on July 13. The Lenten Retreat in April and a special Catholic Imagination Retreat in London in June.

But there are also so many annual traditions to look forward to and people in our lives to celebrate: Valentine’s Day, Opening Day for Major League Baseball, NCAA March Madness, DC’s Cherry Blossom Festival, birthday parties, weddings, anniversary’s, Earth Day, the Preakness Stakes, Memorial Day cookouts and pool openings, Mother’s and Father’s Days, Fireworks on the 4th of July, Back to School shopping, college football season, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.

Then it struck me. For all of that, as a community centered in our relationship with Jesus we also have another year, another chance, another graced time to celebrate the mysteries at the heart of who we are as Bon Secours: Sisters of Bon Secours Foundation Day on Jan. 24th, Ash Wednesday on March 6, the season of Lent, Holy Week with Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday, Easter on April 21, the season of Easter, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost on June 9, the Assumption of Mary on August 15, the rhythm of growth in Ordinary Time, All Saints on November 1, and the Advent Season in December.

What an incredible year we have in front of us. Thanks be to God, now and forever.

Nick Stein