This month, our nation celebrates 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence: a milestone anniversary for a nation forged in the fires of revolution and tested in its resolve to uphold the promise of freedom and opportunity.

One of the ways we Catholics punctuate our lives and mark time with our faith is through liturgical seasons and feasts. In addition to seasons such as Lent and Easter, Advent and Christmas, we also dedicate certain months to fostering various devotions that further integrate our lives with the practice of our faith.

“The almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Luke 1:49). With these words, Mary praises God for the gift of salvation that he offers in her Son, Jesus Christ. The “Magnificat” as we have come to know it, is a canticle prayed by Our Lady when she visits Elizabeth, an event that we commemorate in the liturgy of the Church every year on May 31, the last day of the month dedicated to Mary.

The month of May has been observed as Mental Health Month in the United States since 1949. While this is a secular observance, caring for our mental health is certainly an integral element in living our Catholic faith. It is perhaps a happy coincidence that Mental Health Month coincides with the Easter Season in the life of the Catholic Church.

Anniversaries of notable events such as births, weddings and ordinations are important. A first anniversary holds special significance as we look to the recent past and especially toward the future.

Pope Francis has invited the entire Church to celebrate a Year of Jubilee. For all of 2025 we have been promised a unique outpouring of God’s goodness and grace, a wealth of blessings.

The theme of Jubilee Year 2025 – “Pilgrims of Hope” – summons each of us and the whole Church to renew our commitment to Jesus Christ and to one another. We are pilgrims together.

People choose Catholic education for many reasons. Some families choose it for excellence in academic instruction. Some choose it for the tight-knit community. Some choose it so their children will be taught according to a moral compass with an emphasis on virtue.

One of the central mysteries of our faith is the Incarnation, which the Church celebrates most solemnly at Christmas.

In a few short weeks, 2024 will come to an end. Our well-planned Christmas celebrations will bleed into our anticipation of a new year, which offers a new beginning. But, 2025 won’t be just any new year. This new year is a Jubilee year!