This week's edition of our "Things To Know" newsletter:

The obedience of the star calls us to imitate its humble service: to be servants, as best we can, of the grace that invites all people to find Christ. Dear friends, you must have the same zeal to be of help to one another.... Pope Saint Leo the Great (Office of Readings; painting, Hiroshi Tabata)

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones / And has lifted up the lowly. Magnificat

End Capital Punishment now.

Who were the people that brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Baby Jesus? Ann Naffziger shares what we know about the #Magi who visited Christ on the #Epiphany:

www.beapaulist.org/blog/read-th... Read & share the latest edition of "Call of the Spirit," our e-newsletter packed with lots of interactive information about @paulistfathers.bsky.social. We hope it will inspire you or someone you know to discern a Paulist #vocation. 📧[email protected]

On this #Epiphany, we hear the account of #TheMagi from the East who saw #TheStar. @evandeneykel.bsky.social digs into the story at our #podcast @deaconspod.bsky.social:

On this #Epiphany, we hear the account of #TheMagi from the East who saw #TheStar. @evandeneykel.bsky.social digs into the story at our #podcast @deaconspod.bsky.social:

Mass for the Epiphany of the Lord at Old St. Mary's Cathedral in #SanFrancisco:

Mass for the Epiphany of the Lord at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Community in Los Angeles:

Mass for the #Epiphany of the Lord at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City:

Mass for the #Epiphany of the Lord at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City:

Happy Eleventh Day of Christmas! Today, the Church celebrates the Epiphany of the Lord. Image: Statues depicting the Magi at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Community in #LosAngeles. 📸: @lisahendey.bsky.social #Epiphany #Magi #TheMagi #TheStar

Winter moonrise Bethesda

Stay focused on finding and following Jesus, just like the Magi. Learn how we can stay on the right path:

Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception this morning.

The Magi were determined to find Jesus, following the Star of Bethlehem to reach him. Discover how we can do the same: buff.ly/DXgLUG3

Happy Eleventh Day of Christmas! Today, the Church celebrates the Epiphany of the Lord. Image: Statues depicting the Magi at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Community in #LosAngeles. 📸: @lisahendey.bsky.social #Epiphany #Magi #TheMagi #TheStar

The best thing about being a Paulist Deacon Affiliate--and I know my Deacon Affiliate brothers will agree--is being associated in a special way with the @paulistfathers.bsky.social --a group of men committed to getting the Word of the Liberating Christ out to everyone, esp. those on the margins.

Happy Tenth Day of Christmas! Today, the Church observes the (optional) Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Image: The creche at our mother church, the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, in New York City. #Jesus #JesusChrist #HolyName

Happy Tenth Day of Christmas! Today, the Church observes the (optional) Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Image: The creche at our mother church, the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, in New York City. #Jesus #JesusChrist #HolyName

When you become a @paulistfathers.bsky.social priest, you join a brotherhood & a family. During his homily for the Feast of the Holy Family, Paulist Fr. Rich Whitney shares a few anecdotes about life with the Paulist community in Knoxville, TN. 🌐beapaulist.org 📧[email protected]

In his remarks on the plane ride after his apostolic visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV cited the book "The Practice of the Presence of God" as a key to understanding his personal spirituality. For a background on that book, listen to this episode of @deaconspod.bsky.social with @cab-phd.bsky.social:

In his remarks on the plane ride after his apostolic visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV cited the book "The Practice of the Presence of God" as a key to understanding his personal spirituality. For a background on that book, listen to this episode of @deaconspod.bsky.social with @cab-phd.bsky.social:

Happy Ninth Day of Christmas! Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen. Image: A glimpse of a Christmas Mass last week at St. Patrick's Catholic American Parish in #Rome, #Italy. #Roma #Italia #expats #AmericanExpats

Happy Ninth Day of Christmas! Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen. Image: A glimpse of a Christmas Mass last week at St. Patrick's Catholic American Parish in #Rome, #Italy. #Roma #Italia #expats #AmericanExpats

Peace Through Presence Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God & the World Day of PeaceThursday, 01 January 2026Mass Readings As we begin a new year, the Church asks us to tell the truth about where we are. Today is the eighth day of Christmas, the Octave of the Nativity. January 1 is also…

Still have Christmas decorations up? For Catholics, the Christmas season in 2026 ends on Sunday, January 11, 2026, with the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. So, good for you!

How are #reincarnation and #eternallife different? Listen to Father Dave’s answer as he discusses the #Church’s teaching on reincarnation: buff.ly/S7URwHR

We are ready for the 1st full day of FOCUS Catholic #SEEK2026! If you are in Columbus, come visit @paulistfathers.bsky.social & Paulist seminarians at Mission Way booth 713. 🌐beapaulist.org 📧[email protected]

How do our families imitate the Holy Family? @paulistfathers.bsky.social Fr. Rich Whitney, associate pastor at Saint John XXIII Parish and Catholic Center, shares a spiritual reflection during his homily for the Feast of the Holy Family. 🌐beapaulist.org 📧[email protected]

Happy Eighth Day of Christmas and New Year's Day! Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. May you be blessed with joy and peace in 2026! Image: This icon of Mary and Jesus is found at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in #GrandRapids, MI. 📸: Diocese of Grand Rapids

Happy Eighth Day of Christmas and New Year's Day! Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. May you be blessed with joy and peace in 2026! Image: This icon of Mary and Jesus is found at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in #GrandRapids, MI. 📸: Diocese of Grand Rapids

At least you remembered on Monday and not Saturday

Matthew, Mark, Luke or John were not the first to share the news of Jesus. “The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard!” Guys on the overnight and not highly regarded brought the good news first. How will you share the good news of Christ’s love in 2026?

In this #YearInReview episode of our podcast @deaconspod.bsky.social, the Paulist Deacon Affiliates consider their highs and lows over the past year:

Paul Gauguin's self-portrait as saint and sinner at the National Gallery

As a Paulist Deacon Affiliate, amen to that! And thank you, @paulistfathers.bsky.social , for all you do!

2025 personal highlight. This actually happened in 2024, but I didn't know about it until this year. The Atlantic said of some work that I did that it was "not only clever—and dark—but really funny." Okay, they were talking about my winning entry in The New Yorker caption contest, but still!

A great way to identify at least some of our great episodes over the past year--not an exhaustive list!

Still a few hours away from the ball dropping, but I can safely say I've never been as unnostalgic about the passing of the year as this year. That being said, I'm grateful for my family, my friends, my colleagues, my fellow readers and moviegoers, my brother deacons, our parishioners, and God.

Happy new year!

Still feel awkward during the Sign of Peace? Many do. But this moment in the Mass carries more meaning than we realize. Discover why this simple gesture matters: buff.ly/7ckYYy5

We pray for you and your loved ones on this New Year's Eve!

In this #YearInReview episode of our podcast @deaconspod.bsky.social, the Paulist Deacon Affiliates consider their highs and lows over the past year:

We pray for you and your loved ones on this New Year's Eve!

Happy Seventh Day of Christmas! We pray that you and your loved ones have a joyful and safe New Year's Eve! Image: This statue of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is located outside the Church of St. Paul the Apostle (our mother church) in New York City.

This week's edition of our "Things To Know" newsletter:

Happy Seventh Day of Christmas! We pray that you and your loved ones have a joyful and safe New Year's Eve! Image: This statue of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is located outside the Church of St. Paul the Apostle (our mother church) in New York City.

This week's edition of our "Things To Know" newsletter: