As one year closes and another approaches, many people begin to set goals; physical goals, financial goals, professional goals. Yet for Christians, and especially for those of us formed by discipline, sacrifice, and service, the most important question is not what will I accomplish? but who will I become?
As we look toward 2026, the Community of Warrior Penitents invites all Catholics, especially our brothers and sisters who have served or who are currently serving, to dedicate the coming year to growing intentionally in the Catholic faith and living that faith openly through service to our neighbors.
This is not a call to shouting louder words, but to a clearer witness.
Faith That Is Lived, Not Hidden
Catholic faith was never meant to be confined to the private sphere. From the earliest days of the Church, Christians were recognized not primarily by what they said, but by how they lived; how they loved, how they forgave, how they cared for the poor, the sick, the needy, and the forgotten.
Our Lord Himself is unmistakably clear:
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
To live an open life of faith does not mean seeking attention or approval. It means refusing to separate belief from action, prayer from service, or Sunday worship from weekday living. Faith that remains hidden quickly becomes faith that withers.
Formation Before Action
The temptation is always to rush into doing. But the Church teaches, and experience confirms, that right action flows from right formation.
Dedicating 2026 to the Catholic faith begins with returning to the sources:
- Sacred Scripture, read daily and prayed with reverence
- The Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation
- The Liturgy of the Hours, uniting our days to the prayer of the Church
- The Rosary, contemplating Christ through the eyes of Our Lady
- The teachings of the Church, received humbly and lived faithfully
For Warrior Penitents, this discipline is familiar. Just as training precedes mission, spiritual formation precedes fruitful service.
Faith Made Visible Through Service
The Letter of St. James leaves no room for ambiguity:
“Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (James 2:17).
An open life of faith is one that naturally moves outward. Love of God finds expression in love of neighbor. Prayer bears fruit in mercy and charity
In 2026, we are called to make our faith visible through:
- Commitment to the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
- Intentional service within our local communities
- Presence to those who are lonely, struggling, in need, or forgotten
- Willingness to give time, attention, and dignity, not just financial resources where they are needed
This is not about heroic gestures. It is about consistent fidelity in ordinary places: families, neighborhoods, parishes, workplaces.
Veterans Living With Purpose
For many veterans, the loss of mission after service leaves a deep ache. The Catholic faith offers not a replacement mission, but a greater one—a lifelong vocation rooted in Christ.
The discipline, readiness, and sense of brotherhood formed in military service find new direction when ordered toward the Gospel. In the Community of Warrior Penitents, fraternity becomes accountability, and accountability becomes love expressed through action.
To dedicate 2026 to faith lived openly is to reclaim purpose, not for personal fulfillment alone, but for the good of others and the glory of God. A purpose of self-growth and community growth towards Christ.
A Public Witness, Quietly Lived
Living an open life of faith does not require confrontation, argument, or spectacle. Often, it is the quiet consistency of a life shaped by Christ that speaks most powerfully. It is the bridges built in charity that bring the most people to the Church and to Christ.
- Choosing integrity when compromise would be easier
- Serving when no one is watching
- Praying before acting (and praying while acting)
- Forgiving when resentment feels justified
In a world hungry for authenticity, a Catholic life lived with humility, simplicity, and love becomes a powerful sign of hope.
A Resolution Worth Making
As 2026 approaches, consider making a resolution not simply to believe more, but to live more fully what you believe.
Let this be a year marked by:
- Deeper prayer
- Stronger community
- Concrete service
- Visible charity
- Faith that moves from the heart, through the hands, to the community
For the Community of Warrior Penitents, and for all who walk alongside us, may 2026 be a year of growth, witness, and renewal. A year where faith is not hidden, but offered freely in service to Christ present in our neighbors.
May we live what we profess.
May we serve whom we love.
May we follow Christ, openly and faithfully.
May the Saints and Apostles pray for your growth this next year, and may there be opportunities for you to live charitably through faith in Jesus Christ.
In Christ and Prayer,
WP
The Community of Warrior Penitents 