Resources by Date for January 2023

January 1 is the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. This feast day celebrates the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as the mother of our Lord Jesus.

St. Basil the Great was a fourth century Greek bishop. His feast day is January 2. He was a skilled orator who was known for supporting the Nicene creed over Arianism.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton foundeds the first free Catholic school in America. Because of this, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is considered the founder of the parochial school system in the United States.

St. John Neumann was born in Eastern Europe in 1811. He traveled to the United Stated in his mid-20s in order to do missionary work. At age 29 he joined the Redemptorist order. He continued to serve those in his community, especially the immigrants. Eventually he became the bishop of Philadelphia. There he organized the first diocesan school system in the United States. In addition to his contributions to establishing Catholic education, he was also known for his holiness and his spiritual writings.

The readings for the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord tell of the revelation of Jesus Christ to all people. discussion of what gifts we could bring to the service of the Lord is appropriate. Also, the international aspect of the three Kings speaks to our common humanity and issues such as racism and immigration. Here are some ideas for youth ministry, classroom use, or in the home.

The readings for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Year A give us reason to think about our own baptisms. Do we take our own baptisms for granted? Have we really thought about what this sacrament means in our lives?

The Mass readings for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A inspire us to think about the call to holiness and the need to declare that Jesus has died for our redemption.

St. Agnes of Rome was born in the year 291. Many eligible young men sought to marry her. But she saw herself as the spouse of Jesus. When she continued to resist, she was condemned to death and was martyred at the age of 13.

The readings for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A inspire us to understand that Jesus has saved us and we are called to spread that good news to others.

January 22 is is designated as the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. It is a day of prayer and penance. When January 22 falls on a Sunday, this observance is moved to Monday.

January 25 is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. St. Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus converted him from a persecutor of Christians to a fully committed follower of Jesus.

January 26 is the feast day of Sts. Timothy and Titus. St. Timothy is the patron saint of stomach ailments.St. Titus is the patron saint of the United States Army Chaplain Corps.

St. Angela Merici is the founder of the Ursuline order of religious sisters. She is the patron saint ofthe sick, the disabled, and all those grieving the loss of parents. Her feast day is January 27.

St. Thomas Aquinas is a 13th century saint and a Doctor of the Church. St. Thomas was influenced by the philosopher Aristotle and was known to for his logical and reasoned approach to theology.

The readings for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A tell us we must seek the Lord. Consider if you are actively seeking God or if you are just waiting for something to happen.

St. John Bosco was a priest, educator, and founder of the Salesians, an order inspired by the example of St. Francis de Sales. His feast day is January 31. He devoted his life to educating disadvantaged youth and juvenile delinquents. He felt that love was more important in teaching than punishment. This method became known as the Salesian Preventative System. One of his students was St. Dominic Savio.