Merry Christmas, a grace-filled New Year, and a blessed celebration of Mary the Mother of God! As we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the holy Mother of God, I wish you God’s special grace flowing from this feast.
In a previous article of December 28, I wrote on what the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God is about and why the Church celebrates it on January 1. You may want to read the article—Lessons from Mary, Mother of God. Today is about thanking you for journeying with us this past year and wishing you the blessings of the year 2023.
Gratitude
My sincere gratitude to the Gratia Vobis Ministries members, reflection writers, readers, donors, board members, staff, theological reviewers, and management for their incredible work over the past year.
This past year has been remarkable in many ways due to these individuals’ tireless contributions towards our mission and values. Through their collective efforts we were able to reach thousands of readers with our daily reflections. Also, we spread the message of evangelization through works of charity around the world. We carried out faith in action works in places such as Guyana, Argentina, and Minna in Northern Nigeria.
There was also a surprise gift to a rural village in India with a family-built well dedicated in my name on my birthday! This priceless generosity took me by surprise when I saw the photos. What makes it unique is that I knew about it after the fact. Also, the silent donor’s motivation was our mission of a cross-cultural global reach. May God bless this angel donor. May God also bless another angel donor who sponsored the production of our daily inspirations this past year.
Thank You
I thank the president, Paul Verderber, in a special way for leading the charge on these projects as well as creating a unique program centered around food for the body and soul. The program includes providing sound catholic resources for poor communities in North Carolina alongside supplies that would last them one year. It is beyond admirable the accomplishments of this initiative. It would not have been possible without everyone’s hard work and dedication. The Most Reverend Luis Zarama, the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, has remained an incredible inspiration. His guidance on one-on-one relationship with the poor is inspiring.
The same level of appreciation should be given to those who wrote reflections for us over this time—whether it be about faith or its relationship to life’s various challenges. They remind us all that no matter how difficult times may seem, there is always something beautiful behind each storm cloud if we just take a look.
Furthermore, I am grateful for our donors whose generous contributions allow us to continue doing what we do best: sharing and living Christ-centered messages while emphasizing grace, love, and unity in diversity. Without them none of our dreams could have come true nor could we have completed any of our projects successfully.
Keep Up the Good Work
Finally, thanks to our board members, staff, and theological reviewers who worked diligently behind the scenes ensuring everything ran smoothly throughout the year. From content creation to marketing strategizing, they were always one step ahead. They made sure every detail was handled properly so that when it came time for implementation, everything ran like clockwork. These people are true unsung heroes who deserve recognition for everything they have done! Keep up the good work.
As we continue to profess what we believe in words and live it out in actions, demonstrating the intricate connection between belief and action, we invite you to consider ways we might improve. During my Christmas message, I mentioned our 10th Anniversary coming in August 2023. The president looks forward to your ideas for the celebration and the advancement of our work of living and sharing God’s love and word.
In conclusion, I am immensely proud of your work in the ministry. Your unyielding commitment continues to inspire me and many around the world. A million heartfelt thanks will never be enough. But it is certainly the least I can offer right now so, THANK YOU!
Count on my Masses and other prayers for your needs. Our Lady of Grace, pray for us. Amen.
Grace to you!
Fr. Maurice Emelu
