Sacramentum is a series devised by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, exploring the sacraments of the Catholic Church and other aspects of parish life and Catholic devotion. In this reflection, Sr. Connie Harkin, SSND discusses the upcoming season of Advent, and what spiritual lessons we can incorporate as we begin a new ‘liturgical year’, and soon, a new calendar year.

New beginnings are on the horizon. January the First begins a new year! Recently, I came across an interview with the Canadian rapper Shad. He was sharing thoughts about his new album, “Start Anew.” What an awesome title to welcome us into 2026! As we go ahead through these final months of 2025, we can especially be drawn into thinking about this expression.

Do we ever stop to think that when we open our eyes each morning, God is inviting us to “start anew”? Yesterday is gone, melted into the past and we are now given “the present moment.” When we awaken to a new day, we come to realize that today is “now.” As the day progresses, we may encounter many people, be involved in new situations that delight, challenge, and even invite change.

It goes without saying that our calendars mark the “new year” with January 1st. But there is also another “new year” we will soon be entering. In late November 2025, we will be on the doorstep of a new season and a new liturgical year in our Church calendar, with the four-week Season of Advent.

At the start of a new year, people often ponder about resolutions. We might even be drawn to think back to resolutions we made last year, to recall what was on our mind and hearts at that time, if such things have not already totally faded from our radar screen.

When we apply the expression “start anew” to the coming calendar year of 2026, we may be stirred to think about a new job, a new house, a new milestone in our lives, a new goal to achieve. But how might we apply this expression to the coming liturgical year, which we will usher in at Advent?

In the Holy Season of Advent, we prepare for the coming of Jesus – Emmanuel – God with us. He became one of us, shared our human nature, though He was divine. Once there was a banner hanging in the sanctuary of my local parish with the words – HOPE – PEACE – JOY – LOVE. Advent encourages us to “enflesh” these words into our daily lives, to live them and embody them daily. How might we be able to “start anew” this Advent, with these four words as our guide?

The first Sunday of Advent, Nov. 30th, draws us to the theme of Hope. Throughout this year, we have been reminded that we are to be “Pilgrims of Hope.” We have looked at and involved ourselves in various initiatives and devotions to promote this hope.

Sometimes, we struggle with hope today, when we see and hear of the war and destruction in certain areas of our world. Our media provides us with the latest information of calamities, disasters – both natural and man-made. People are displaced, deprived of food, water, shelter, all the things that we take for granted. We may have questioned how we can be of assistance to those in such situations. Thankfully, there continues to be opportunities to bring hope where it is lacking. We may be able to start anew this year and think of the ways we can bring hope to a world where it seems often hard to find. We can begin the liturgical year asking ourselves, “Am I ready to do my part?”

When we reflect on ways to share hope, we are embarking on a journey towards peace. Peace is the theme covering the second Sunday of Advent. With every encounter, we have the opportunity to show respect, to treat one another with fairness, to be an instrument for fostering peace. Jesus is our Model, our Prince of Peace. Coming to know Jesus in the Gospels takes time and reflection. We encounter His example as an instrument of peace through taking that time in studying the Gospel and praying with it.

God also gives us the time in our daily lives, through the people we meet in our family, in the workplace, in our everyday encounters, sometimes where we least expect it, to practice peace. Let us foster the awareness in each of our daily encounters, so as to be able to readily ask ourselves, “What can I / we do or say to bring peace to our world?”

The Third Sunday of Advent is often referred to as Gaudete Sunday – “Rejoice Sunday.” This Sunday calls us to consider the joy in waiting for the coming of Jesus.

When we pray the Angelus, we state: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus laughed, wept, enjoyed the company of friends, the apostles, and others who followed Him. He gave us a path to follow with joy.

The Holy Season of Advent invites us to be ready, to be awake, to find that path. And here we are, for over two thousand years, we continue to rejoice in the coming of Jesus! May this be a time to reflect on both the anticipation and the permanence of joy in our lives, thanks to the incarnation of our Lord and the love of our God.

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we are drawn into the theme of Love. Love is at the heart of our faith as Christians. We read in Scripture, in the Letters of John (1 John 4:7-21) that God is love, and it is out of love that God gave us His Son, Jesus. Throughout life we experience and continue to be the recipient of the love of God. Jesus, the Incarnate One, revealed to us the way to live and the path to follow. He taught us to share that love with others.

During the Season of Advent, once again we are invited to “Stay awake, Be ready!” What is it that we are to be on watch for? At the beginning of this new liturgical year, we are given yet another opportunity to come to know, love, and serve Jesus more. We are filled with hope and trust that we can walk with Him to bring peace and joy amid the turmoil and destruction of our world.

A statement I came across recently expresses what Advent could mean for us. Let this be our guide as we “start anew” with a new liturgical year: “This invitation to HOPE derives from PEACE. This gift is manifested in JOY which is borne out of the LOVE the Incarnate God has for each of us.”

Are we ready to cross the threshold of Advent? We are not alone. Let us always treasure in our hearts, the encouraging words which Jesus spoke as he commissioned His disciples and now, to us: “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Let us “START ANEW.”