In this year of 2024, there have been some important stories to tell regarding the Catholic Church and our Catholic faith. Perhaps one of the highlights was centered around the Eucharistic Revival here in the U.S. You were able to see photos and read about the inspiring event from Indianapolis right here in The Observer.
The Church will begin a Holy Year centered around hope in 2025. That news and the diocesan pilgrimage churches were announced right here in The Observer.
It has been over two decades since the diocesan Church held a capital campaign for various important needs in parishes and ministries. All that is documented, and will be followed and reported to you right here in The Observer.
Those stories along with all those moments that matter to you in the life of your family and parish, whether it’s regarding festivals, parish missions, life and family issues, events in Catholic schools and religious education programs, acts of charity and service to and for others by Catholic parishes and organizations, are all brought together for you in the pages of this newspaper.
And The Observer will celebrate 90 years of reporting God’s word to you, beginning in 2025.
I mention all this just in case you were thinking that print publications like The Observer are unnecessary. I mention it because I think this time of year is the perfect time to remind ourselves of the importance of continuing and supporting the legacy of the printed word. Information has power. Bishop Malloy writes in his column this week about the event that changed everything. That event was so important that there were people who felt compelled to write it down. The event, in words, was documented and shared — over and over and over.
Words can and have changed lives. We are honored to take part in sharing God’s words, and all the activity it compels, with you.
And if you or someone you know still doubts how important publications are, here is an important story we think we should share again thanks to a writer named Luke.
Merry Christmas, dear readers.
“In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘glory to God in highest and on earth, peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”
The Gospel of Luke 2:1-14
