New year message to our parishioners and friends As we stand at the threshold of a new year, we do so in a world troubled by conflict, fear, and uncertainty. So many people across the globe live under the shadow of violence, war, and intimidation.We know that peace is far more than the absence of violence. True peace runs deeper: it is the quiet strength that heals divisions, the steadfast courage that refuses to answer hatred with hatred, and the gentle wisdom that seeks understanding over judgment. “Blessed are the peacemakers,” Jesus proclaims in the Beatitudes—not the passive observers, not the silent bystanders, but those who make peace. Peace requires intention. It requires effort. It requires hearts willing to forgive, to listen, to take the first step toward reconciliation. At the same time, we remember that peace is not something we manufacture by our will alone. Peace is ultimately a gift from God, a grace poured into hearts open to His presence. As this new year begins, we pray for the courage to be peacemakers—in our families, our community, our nation, and in the quiet corners of our own hearts. May we dare to take the initiative, to reach out, to build bridges, and to stand as signs of God’s hope in a weary world. May we open ourselves to God, the source of all healing, all renewal, and all peace. May the Lord bless you and keep you in His peace throughout the coming year and always. Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us