HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

As this year ends and we anticipate the upcoming year, we think of all the good, not so good and the sadness that has occurred in 2022. We have been blessed with joys, happiness, and love but we have been struck with sadness, sickness, and death. It’s always great to have happiness and hope in our lives but we must be able to learn from everything that we are confronted with. That includes the darkness that is presented to us, but we must have the trust that the light of Christ is always present. All we have to do is search for Him by facing our fear, stepping into the darkness, and seeking the light of Christ. This process allows us to change and to learn from it. Remember that rainbows don’t happen unless there is a storm. Scripture from The Gospel of John says, “What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:3–5). We must remember that embracing the darkness does not mean carrying the light into the dark. It means walking into the darkness and seeking that light by exploring what’s around us so that our other senses become sharper and adaptable so we can learn from it and move on. 

In anticipating the upcoming year, we are filled with Hope, Joy, and the Love of Christ. Sometimes these things don’t come naturally. Sometimes we have to go to them. Sometimes you can’t find that Hope, Love and Joy but maybe it’s because it’s you that is the hope for someone, or the joy for anyone, and the Love for everyone. Remember that if we lose hope then we are hopeless.

DEACON5 is grateful for all the good and Blessed things in life. We are certainly grateful to each and every one of you and we continue to pray for all of you and your families. Your comments are what keeps us motivated. 

We are also grateful for the guidance and the contribution that Dn. Steve and Rose have given us deacons during the inception of this website. With that being said, we are sad to announce that Dn. Steve & Rose has decided to move onto and concentrate on his other ministries. He said that “it was time to step aside for someone else to enjoy the richness of sharing their daily reflections with everyone”. We are forever nourished for your richness of text and thankful by your knowledge.

We are excited to introduce you to Dn. Mike & Martha Hidalgo. Deacon Mike was ordained in June 2010 and is assigned to Beatitudes of Our Lord Catholic Church, La Mirada. Deacon Mike and Martha are great examples and a testament to the Sacrament of Matrimony because they just celebrated 50 years of marriage in June 2022.  They have 3 adult daughters and 3 granddaughters. They are both retired and serve their parish in the R.C.I.A. program, visiting the sick and homebound, Spiritual Director for the Los Angeles Cursillo and other ministries. 

The DEACON5 Staff wishes everyone a joyous, nourished and Blessed New Year!

New Year’s Prayer: At the start of each day, help us to recognize you above all else. Enlighten the eyes of our heart that we might see you and notice how you’re at work through our lives. Give us the wisdom to make the best choices, fill us with a desire to seek after you more than anything else in this world. Let your Spirit and power breathe in us, through us, again, fresh, and new. Thank you that you are greater than anything we may face in our day. Thank you that your presence goes with us and that your joy is never dependent on our circumstances, but it is our true and lasting strength, no matter what we’re up against. We ask that your peace lead us, that it would guard our hearts and minds in you. We ask for your grace to cover our lives this day. We love you Lord…we need you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”