Rayanne Bennett, Associate Publisher
Different traditions have long been observed about when the season of Christmas ends, official or otherwise. We of course know that the liturgical season ends on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, formally celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany (usually the second Sunday of January). And some traditions even hold out until Candlemas (February 2).
But the lived reality for many individuals and families (including Catholics) is that the Christmas season starts earlier each year and by New Year’s Day, they are chomping at the bit to pack it up for next year.
The foothold that social media has gained in our lives has exacerbated this dynamic. Ideas for Christmas gift giving, decorating, entertaining and other cultural practices start to pop up in our newsfeeds in October. For more than two solid months we are inundated with Christmas, often asked to take notice of how countless hundreds of others are observing the holiday in every aspect of daily life. There is no escaping it.
And then, by New Year’s Day, it all drops off a cliff.
As a monthly magazine, we often find ourselves covering events that have already taken place. But this year’s coverage of Christmas seems particularly “long in the tooth,” even though, at this writing, the liturgical season ended just one day ago.
This issue of The Monitor Magazine aims to call us back to the beautiful season, and indeed the inspiring year, that we just experienced. In addition to a look back at Christmastide and a reflection on some of the inspiring words from our Holy Father and our Bishop, we also dedicate special coverage to the closing of the Holy Year, or, as it is known, the Jubilee of Hope.
So much has been said and done during this Holy Year by Pope Francis and then Pope Leo XIV – pointing out the sacred nature of our lives, ministries, gifts, responsibilities and even burdens. We have been assured, again and again, that God loves us and remains ever present to lift us up through the tough times and give us cause to rejoice in the happy times.
It is our hope among The Monitor team that readers will spend time with this January issue, reflecting on the many spiritual gifts offered in the year that was. No matter what 2026 brings on our pilgrimage through life, we can hold fast to the joy and hope that has been so generously shared with us.