Today is a very significant day since it’s the 2^nd Anniversary of TomPerna.org and it’s also my 40^th birthday.  Not sure what is having more of an impact on me at this moment – it’s either that I am now 40 years old and considered “middle age” or that I have written and posted nearly 350 blog posts in two years on this blog. There is no doubt they are both major events in my life this side of Heaven.

Over the past year, I have been very blessed with the increased popularity of TomPerna.org. Not only did the blog post get a facelift do to the help of my girlfriend, Tara Cabral, but also my writing has been on some major Catholic websites and it seems that people from across the globe like what I have to say about the Catholicism. It’s been a whirlwind experience going from 22,889 views in 2012 to 97,541 in 2013.

My blog posts have appeared on NewAdvent.org and Bigpulpit.com. I would like to thank Kevin Knight and Tito Edwards, the editors of these Catholic outlets, for getting my name and writing out there in the Catholic world. In recent months, my picture has even appeared on New Advent with blog posts. I didn’t have the words to express how exciting it was to see my “mug shot” for the first time on New Advent.

Not only has my writing reached Catholic readers via these websites, but also my posts have found their way onto many parish websites, a few diocesan websites, and last week on SpiritDaily.com. It’s a very humbling affirmation to think that fellow Catholics enjoy my writings enough to post them on their websites and to share them on Facebook and Twitter.

The posts I believed would be popular were not necessarily the blog posts that were popular. Below is the Top 5 most popular blog posts over the past year –

1. 5 Reasons Why Every Catholic Man Should Join the Knights of Columbus

2. 10 Words from St. John Vianney to the 21^st Century on the True Presence Of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament

3. “Mondays with Mary” – 7 Benefits of Praying the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary

4. 5 Steps to Fasting and Prayer in Syria on College Football Saturday

5. Catholic Dog Tags

As was with last year, there are many people I want to thank. First and foremost, I give all praise and thanksgiving to Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, the Ever-Virgin Mary. The Saints are inspirations for me, especially the soon-to-be saint, Pope John Paul II. It is through his guidance and intercession I do what I do each day on here and at my job.

I want to also thank my family, especially my parents and my sister, who have always supported me in all that I have done over the past two years with this blog. I thank Tara, my girlfriend, who always seems to have my back when it comes to my writing, and my speaking, which I hope increases this year. Thank you to all my friends, undergraduate and graduate professors, and my current bosses – Fr. Will Schmid and Fr. Chris Axline. I love working at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church as the Director of Adult Evangelization and Catechesis. It is truly the dream job.

Here is to the beginning of year three…