Happy New Year!

I don't remember a new year having as much expectation placed on it as 2021—at least not since the millennium. Few of us are sad to see the back of 2020 and all of us are hoping for a return to normality in 2021.

That said, I do think there are some things from 2020 that we would do well to carry forward into the new year.

Despite the hardships, 2020 saw many acts of extraordinary kindness and thoughtfulness: neighbour looked out for neighbour, the poor and the needy were not forgotten and un-sung heroes from all walks of life were recognised. I don't want to leave all that in 2020, that's something I'd like to carry forward into 2021.

During the lockdown we all had to make a greater effort to keep in touch with those we loved. We used Zoom and other technologies to reach out to each other and found other creative ways of maintaining relationships and building new ones. I don't want to leave that behind either.

Also, through the lockdowns and the enforced eucharistic fasts, when our churches were closed and our ability to mark births, deaths and marriages were curtailed and even gathering to sing God's praises caused problems, many of us rediscovered the importance of our faith and our relationship with Jesus. I would like to think that is something we are also keen to bring forward into the new year.

Whatever our hopes, none of us can know what 2021 will bring. However, there is one thing we do know: God is holding our hand and he won't let go. Whatever 2021 brings us— be it good, bad or indifferent— God is standing right next to us, tightly gripping our hand making sure we don't have to face this New Year alone.

I pray that as we rebuild our communities, our lives, our parish and our relationships after everything that COVID-19 has done, we all keep in mind the truth that God has got us and he will never let go of us.

Fr Emmanuel, Canon Alec, Bishop Seamus and the Sisters of Mercy join me in wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year