We have all heard the humor surrounding the Wise men who arrived late – if they had been wise women they would have arrived on time, brought a casserole, cleaned the stable and had Jesus enrolled in a college savings plan before leaving.
As we begin this year of 2026, I would like to use this gospel story of following the star to reflect on our parish’s journey of faith. You have heard often about “Divine Renovation” – a book being used by Catholic parishes around the world to give new direction to parish life. I can honestly say that embracing “Divine Renovation” in this parish has been an epiphany for me. When I arrived 16 years ago, I could not have imagined the shape of my ministry, the experiences we would share, the struggles and joys, the faith and the doubts, or the ways my own life would be transformed by “Divine Renovation.”
Coming here in 2010, I was aware of the shrinking number of priests in the diocese, the changes in demographics here in the North Country and the level of parishioner involvement. The future was very uncertain. In prayer, I was asking God for guidance – I was looking for a star. And in many ways, Divine Renovation has been that star – not just for me, but for us as a parish.
I have learned that epiphanies are not so much “Aha, I finally understand” moments as they are “Aha, this has hold of me” moments. Something rises within us, awakens a longing, and calls us forward. Once that happens, we do not always know where it is taking us – we just know we cannot stay where we are. That has been true for us as a parish.
When we began this journey four years ago, we did not have a map. But we had a star. We had a sense that God was calling us to renewal – to be a parish that helps people encounter Jesus, grow as disciples, and live out the mission together.
Over time, that star has taken shape. It looks like a new leadership team, women and men who pray, listen, discern, and serve with generosity and courage. It looks like a clear vision statement that gives us direction and keeps us focused when decisions are difficult or change feels uncomfortable. It looks like a stronger prayer ministry because we have come to understand that renewal does not begin with programs, but with prayer – people lifting one another up, trusting God to act, and creating space for the Holy Spirit to work.
It looks like strengthened hospitality and fellowship, because a parish is not just a place you attend, it is a community where you are known, welcomed, and missed when you are not there.
It looks like something very concrete and very human: a meal train for parishioners in need – because following the star always leads us toward compassion, care and love made visible.
And now, it even looks like a new early childhood center in our school, a sign of hope, growth, and investment in the youngest among us – planting seeds of faith and belonging long before children can name them.
In your pew you will find a sheet listing all the fruits of Divine Renovation over this past year. Renovation or renewal – none of this happened overnight. None of it was perfectly planned. We did not always know where the star was leading. There were moments when we said, “I don’t know what we are doing,” or “This is new,” or “This is hard,” or “This is a little scary.”
And yet we kept following the star. That is exactly what the wise men did in today’s gospel. They did not know the destination when they set out. They could not see Bethlehem or the child. But something had claimed them, and they trusted the star enough to move. Over 180 parishioners did something like that by trusting enough to experience Alpha and that trust opened the treasure chest of their lives.
Fr. Mallon, in his book, “Divine Renovation” states, “The greatest joy in the world is to know, to experience, being used by the Lord to make a difference in someone’s life or in the world. Everyone wins.”
That is what Epiphany is about – not seeing the whole journey but trusting what guides us one step at a time. We may not see everything that lies ahead for our parish, but we know the star we are following is Jesus Christ, calling us to prayer, to hospitality, to service, to mission, and to deeper discipleship.
So the question Epiphany asks us today is not just a personal one – it is a communal one: Will we keep following the star together? Will we trust the vision that guides us? Will we continue to invest in prayer, welcome, care for one another, and the next generation? Will we open the treasure chest of our time, our gifts, and our hearts? That is the star I want to follow with you. What about you?