It's a New Year

Welcome 2011!!

It is our Lady's Feast Day today. It is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. I was able to go to the 8am mass. Apparently, 01 January is not a holy day of obligation here in Australia and different holy days of obligation are observed here.

For info, the holy days of obligation in Australia are:

• the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
• the Epiphany
• the Ascension of Christ
• the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ
• the Assumption of Mary the Mother of God

Apparently, when Assumption falls on a Saturday or a Monday, no obligation is attached to the feast for that year. On the other hand, the Feast of the Ascension is transferred to the 7th Sunday of Easter; while the feasts of the Epiphany, the Body and Blood of Christ and the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul are transferred to the following Sunday.

I was surprised that 08 December, which was a big feast day in the home country, is also not a holy day of obligation here. I remember staying home from school on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception for years and years when we were in grade school at St. Scholastica's. This was wonderful for us because 08 December was Father and Mother's anniversary, so there was extra reason to celebrate.

I now realise that the reason why 08 December was so special is because under the title of the Immaculate Conception, Mary is the principal patroness of the Philippines. Australia's patroness is Mary Help of Christians.

I learned today that it was Pope Paul VI (in 1968) who initiated the celebration of the first day of the year to be observed as "The Day of Peace," in connection to New Year's Day and Mary's role as Queen of Peace. Then in 1974, he moved to 01 January the Feast of the Divine Motherhood of Mary, which was formerly celebrated on 11 October.

I was surprised to hear that these changes were done so recently. Imagine, I was alive at that time albeit rather clueless to such things.

I suppose as each New Year begins, everyone is given a fresh start. We can look at things with a different perspective and do our best to make things better.

Happy New Year, everyone.