‘What’s another year?’ was the winning song at Eurovision 1980, sung by Ireland’s Johnny Logan. Good question. As another year ends and a new one begins, it’s time to both give thanks and look forward in hope. We give thanks for having made it through another year of life and pray that the witness we have given in 2023 may bear fruit for an eternal harvest. Then, as we cross the threshold into 2024, we do so in hope as fellow pilgrims, trusting in the presence of the Lord who promised to be with us always.
On behalf of ‘The Hook of Faith’, we invite you to keep following us on the journey of faith and on the path that follows the way of Christ and his Gospel. We are community of people who have come to know the joy of the Gospel and who desire to share that joy with everyone. We have come to know the truth that a deep friendship with Christ saves us from self-destruction, inner emptiness, meaninglessness and loneliness. In the words of St John: ‘What we have seen and heard we are telling you so that you too may be in union with us as we are in union with the Father’ (1 Jn. 1:3). That is why we dare to proclaim aloud once again as a new year begins, the good news of the Gospel that offers us hope, meaning, joy, peace, forgiveness, companionship, balance and beauty. And with this unshakeable faith, let us go forward in hope to face another year. Wishing all our followers a very Happy New Year with every peace and blessing for 2024.
Fr Billy Swan,
Editor of the Hook of Faith