New Year’s Message from Father Anthony Pizzo

We begin this 2026 with a profound reflection coming directly from Chicago. We are pleased to share the words of our spiritual guide, Father Anthony Pizzo, O.S.A., Provincial Prior of the Augustinians of the Midwest.

In a world that moves fast, Father Tony invites us to pause at the “crossroads” of time. Drawing on the wisdom of Saint Augustine and the words of Pope Leo XIV, his message is a wish not to lose ourselves in the “paralysis of the past” and the “obsession with the future,” but to pause in the present time with renewed hope:

“By focusing on attention—that is, on the present—we bridge the gap between what we have been and what we are becoming. It is the only place where the ‘courageous act of promising again’ can truly take place.”

MESSAGE FOR THE NEW YEAR 2026

Dear friends and colleagues of the Antonio Emanuele Augurusa Foundation,

We have arrived at another crossroads of temporal transition… the new year. There are many people who become deeply involved in the celebrations, hoping that this new year will be “different.” Many of these people are happy to move into a new year because of difficulties and challenges related to health, finances, relationships, or whatever circumstance has caused deeper reflection on what we have, what we do not have, and what we hope to have.

Finding ourselves at this “crossroads,” we are not just looking at a calendar; we are experiencing the fragmented nature of human time. It is a touching time of year, is it not? This transition does not feel like simply turning a page on the calendar but more like a collective sigh of relief, like pressing a “reset” button.

The new year creates a unique psychological space. It is one of the few moments when we allow ourselves to believe in the possibility of a blank slate, even when we know that our baggage usually travels with us past midnight.

Saint Augustine addressed the paradox of “time” by recognizing that the past is already gone, the future is still beyond us, and the present simply moves without duration. Common expressions such as “time flies,” “time passes too quickly,” “where does the time go,” “time is precious” constantly remind us that time escapes our grasp. What do we hope to find within the boundaries of time and in the space that exists in the natural order?

Saint Augustine suggests that if we remain paralyzed by the past or obsessed with the future, we risk losing what is happening here and now, in the present, in our concrete circumstances and situations. By focusing on attention—that is, on the present—we bridge the gap between what we have been and what we are becoming. It is the only place where the “courageous act of promising again” can truly take place.
This is a complete renewal of mind, body, and spirit: nourishing the intellect, contributing to a healthy lifestyle, and cultivating our relationship with God and with one another.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Our experience of Jesus leads to spiritual transformation, leaving behind the now weary parts of our lives and paving the way for a new identity and a new purpose, filled with hope, forgiveness, and peaceful reconciliation through the power of God. It is the same force that drives us to walk together, particularly alongside the poor, the suffering, and the most vulnerable, who depend on our collective voice for the defense of their dignity. This marks a spiritual rebirth, in which the past is overcome and a new life begins, centered on God and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Pope Leo XIV writes in his message for the LIX World Day of Peace 2026:

“Throughout the world, there is hope that every community will become a ‘home of peace,’ where one learns to defuse hostility through dialogue, where justice is practiced and forgiveness is practiced.”

We wish you a year full of blessings and all that you desire.

Holy Mary, Mother of Good Counsel and Mother of Peace, pray for us.

Fr. Anthony Benedict Pizzo, O.S.A. Provincial Prior Augustinian Friars of the Midwest