The new year offers hope for new life

Friday, Jan. 17, 2025
The new year offers hope for new life + Enlarge
Maria Kolbe, mother of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, once told her son, “I do not know what will become of you!” because he was a mischievous child. This led him to pray to Our Lady and ask what would happen to him. Courtesy photo: MI-USA, used with permission

Donna Masek
Special to the Intermountain Catholic
Just as new liturgical life begins for the Catholic Church with the season of Advent, the calendar year promises to bring new life and hope during the month of January. While continuing to remember the past, one can look forward with joyful expectations to the future. 
This year marks a jubilee in the Church as it celebrates the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of Our Lord. In his February 2022 letter announcing the forthcoming jJubilee, Pope Francis states, “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given to us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision…” 
Throughout the year, the universal Church will have Jubilee celebrations in Rome and every diocese in the world. As part of these events, Pope Francis will canonize Carlos Acutis on April 27 during the Jubilee of Teenagers, and Pier Giorgio Frassati on Aug. 3 during the Jubilee of Young People. 
The Diocese of Salt Lake City experienced firsthand youthful pilgrims of hope at the 2025 SEEK conference, held at the Salt Palace Convention Center Jan. 1-5. More than 16,000 of the faithful chanted “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Hosts” during daily Mass at the conference and, at the event’s conclusion, were commissioned to go forth and bring the Gospel message to others. 
January also recognizes that the hope new life promises needs constant prayer. Nationally, a nine-day Novena for Life will begin on Thursday, Jan. 16. Additionally, a day of Prayer for the Legal Protection for Unborn Children takes place on Wednesday, Jan. 22, and the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. will be offered Jan. 23-24. 
Locally, the Diocese of Salt Lake City offers additional prayer services the weekend of Jan. 24-26 for this cause. The annual Diocesan Mass for the Unborn and Ceremony of Lights with Bishop Oscar A. Solis will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Madeleine on Friday, Jan. 24. The Utah March for Life, hosted by Pro-Life Utah, will take place at the state Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 25. The weekend will culminate with a bilingual Rosary for Life at the Monument of the Unborn at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery on Sunday, Jan. 26. (More information on these events can be found at https://www.icatholic.org/article/prolife-events-scheduled-for-january–96318929
Within the Militia of the Immaculata (MI), the birth of its founder, Raymund Kolbe, is recognized on Jan. 8, 1894. Born to a humble family in Poland, he would become known as Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe, OFM Conv. His life of heroic service to others brought hope to many amidst the uncertainties of his time. Ultimately, he would give his life to save the life of another in the Auschwitz concentration camp. He died on Aug. 14, 1941, and is a patron saint of the pro-life movement. 
As the new year continues, may we follow his example of bringing hope and new life to others, echoing the words of Our Lady: “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say” (Luke 1:38).
Donna Masek is a Father Kolbe Volunteer of the Immaculata and member of the Militia of the Immaculata (MI) National Council. She serves both its English and Spanish communities in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

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