Fr. Dick’s Spiritual Reflection–1/14/2026
“Let the Good Times Roll”
We had a nice string of holidays to offer us the invitation to celebrate and enjoy our lives.
Thanksgiving was a chance to thank God for our families and celebrate. Christmas followed with another opportunity and then came New Years Eve and we thanked God for 2025 and celebrated the beginning of 2026.
Now we have to wait until EASTER before we celebrate again?? Not so for New Orleans. They have a great time right before Lent as they enjoy Mardi Gras. There are parades, colorful beads, music, laughter and an overall good time. They love being together and the French Quarter and Bourbon Street fill the air with great music.
I always think of New Orleans with Louie Armstrong on the trumpet and Pete Fountain on the clarinet. Speaking of which, today, January 14th, is the birthday of the clarinet. Pete, you have given that instrument great honor. We join New Orleans as they celebrate Mardi Gras.
But we don’t need a holiday to celebrate, do we?? Everyday there is a reason to celebrate: Just looking around at God’s beautiful creation, or focusing on all the wonderful people who are in our world, or never forgetting how good our families are. In addition, simple things like going to church, praying for others and trying to help someone in need. We are truly blessed.
So even when things seem to look grim and we see so much pain and suffering around us, let us never forget that we don’t need a holiday to celebrate.
So… “LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER”