It’s that time of year again. Time to make a list of resolutions for the new year. No matter what your resolutions are, if you take on too big of a change – or too many changes – it can be easy to quit. Or maybe you don’t buy into the whole New Year’s resolutions hoopla and would rather wait until Lent to focus on the changes you need to make. But January is an opportunity to improve not just your health or your spending habits, but your spiritual life as well. There are countless spiritual resolutions to make for the new year, but picking just one or two is ideal so that you don’t become overwhelmed or start to feel like a failure if you miss them once or twice. Just remember to keep it simple at first, and as your resolutions turn into habits, you can add more.

Go to confession
Some of us don’t get to confession nearly enough. The new calendar year is your opportunity to get in the habit by setting aside the time to go. Confession is offered in each parish prior to each weekend Mass. If those times do not work for you, contact a pastor to make an appointment. Then stick to it. Put it on your calendar for bimonthly, once a month, every other month — whatever schedule will best ensure that you go to confession on a regular basis. If you’re nervous, remember the priest has likely heard it all in confessions over the years and there are apps to help you get through it.

Set a time each day to pray
Start small. If you haven’t been praying daily at all, set aside just five minutes during a set time of the day. If you already pray daily but feel like you can do more, then choose a time of day when you aren’t praying to add additional prayer time. In the mornings you can say a prayer to start your day. At 3 o’clock you can try the Divine Mercy Chaplet. And of course, if you aren’t praying the rosary daily, you can add those 15 minutes in during your day even if it ends up being while you’re driving.

Celebrate feast days with the children
Take a look at a Catholic calendar and find some feast days to celebrate with your children. Start with your patron saints and find ways to make it fun for your children to learn about these saints. Websites like CatholicIcing.com offer great ideas from activities to recipes that bring Catholic saints to life for children. You can watch a video, draw a picture, or enjoy food from the country where your saint is from.

Attend daily Mass
Daily Mass can be tricky when you work or have small children, but we do offer a few evening daily Mass times that may work for you. While you likely won’t be able to attend each day, unless virtually, you can put it on your calendar for once a month or once a week and make an effort to go. First Friday is a good way to start  – there is Mass at noon at St. Mary, Eldora.

Bring a friend to Mass
Whether the person is a former Catholic, a Catholic who has strayed, or someone who has never been to Catholic Mass or any church service whatsoever, it is an important part of being Catholic to evangelize. Helping someone to see the beauty of the Catholic faith can help reignite your own faith and remind you of why you are Catholic.

Renew your baptismal vows
Kick-off the new year by renewing your baptismal promises with your family. It’s easy, you can do it within your own home, and it will remind you of what it is to be a Catholic. It might just be the boost you need to be a more spiritual person in the new year.

One small step toward improving your spiritual life is all you need to become a stronger Catholic in the new year.
And with each step you take, you can follow it up with another when you’re ready.

Have a happy new year and may God bless you in 2021!