Like many of you, I spent some time over the weekend finalizing my year-end giving for 2018. I know how important the month of December is for organizations like MFI that are dependent on the generous gifts of donors like you. Many thanks to all of you who have supported the work and mission of MFI this year! In the coming weeks, we’ll be finalizing our strategic goals for 2019, and our final numbers for 2018 impact our operations in the new year. (If you haven’t had a chance to make a year-end gift to MFI, you can still do so online by midnight tonight here.)

Looking back on 2018, I’m pleased to say that we ended on a high note. The Thursday before Christmas was the best day, by far, for family values on Beacon Hill this year. The third annual Christmas Nativity at the State House was a tremendous success, with hundreds of people in attendance (including the Governor), hymns, carols, scripture reading, and the Holy Family front and center. Three years ago, however, this wonderful tradition almost never started.

I had a chance to speak about that history with the driving force behind the event, Rep. Jim Lyons, and turned our conversation into the first ever MFI Podcast. If you’re travelling to be with family or friends this afternoon or tomorrow, I encourage you to take a few minutes to listen. Find the first episode of the Podcast on iTunes here. You can also play it on our podcast landing page, or by searching for “update mass family” on your preferred podcast app on your Apple or Android device. (Click here for the RSS Feed.)

Happy New Year!