We invite you to join thousands of Catholics nationwide in prayer for the respect of human life during a special novena called 9 Days for Life. Visit 9daysforlife.com to sign up to receive daily intentions from January 21st through the 29th.

This year we invite you to take part in an old tradition of “chalking the door” to celebrate the Epiphany, the day that marks the arrival of the magi, to the place where Jesus was born! This year the Epiphany will be celebrated on Sunday, January 3, but you may also wait until the traditional date of January 6. Following a year that saw families shaken by the coronavirus pandemic, the traditional home blessing will serve as a special symbol of hope and a visible reminder of faith. “Chalking the door” is a sign and symbol of asking God’s blessing upon those who live, work, or visit throughout the coming year. In Exodus, the Israelites marked their doors with blood so that the Lord would pass over their homes; but in this service, we mark our doors with chalk as a sign that we have invited God’s presence and blessing into our homes. In Deuteronomy 6:9 God tells the people of Israel: “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house… You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Chalking the door is a tangible way to honor God in our lives. Visit USCCB.org or click on the picture for more information