Models of Holiness, Witnesses of Peace 26-27 Parish Theme

Our 2026-2027 Parish Theme

This is always one of my favorite times of the year! It is the beginning of a new season of energy and activity here at St. Anthony on the Lake. As the lazy days of summer give way to new beginnings, our parish and school come alive once again. We welcome our students back for a new school Taylor Baar Communications and Stewardship Director year, prepare to launch another wonderful year of Family Program and formation opportunities, and see so many familiar faces returning from summer adventures.

As we begin the 2026-2027 program year, I am excited to share our parish and school theme: Models of Holiness, Witnesses of Peace. It is my prayer, and the prayer of our Parish Leadership Team (PLT), that this theme will inspire each of us to grow in holiness and become instruments of Christ's peace in our parish, our workplaces, our schools, our homes, and throughout our community. You will begin seeing our new theme logo around the parish on our website, Facebook, and even in our worship aid. I hope it serves as a constant reminder of the call we all share as disciples.

This year's theme grew out of the Jubilee Year of St. Francis proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV on the 800 anniversary of the death of St. Francis. Rather than choosing a passage from Scripture as we often do for a theme, we were drawn to one of the most beloved lines from the Peace Prayer attributed to St. Francis, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace." What a beautiful prayer to carry with us each day.

Throughout this year, we will reflect on the Saints and the saints among us who have shown us what it means to follow Christ. They remind us that holiness is for all of us. At the same time, our world longs for peace, and each one of us has the opportunity to bring Christ's peace into every conversation, relationship, and encounter we have.

As we begin this new year together, I invite you to pray with our theme and ask God how you are being called to grow. How will you be a model of holiness? How will you be a witness of peace? May the Lord continue to bless our parish family as we become the saints God created us to be and instruments of peace in our world.