The red envelopes (Lì Xì) are being stuffed. The Lion Dancers are practicing their drums in Chinatown. The smell of Bánh Chưng is starting to drift through the house.

It is almost Tết—the Lunar New Year.

For our culture, this is the season of "Returning." We clean our houses to sweep out the bad luck. We return to our parents' home to pay respects. We gather with cousins we haven't seen in months to play Bầu Cua.

But for some of you, there is one "House" you have been avoiding returning to: The Church.

Maybe it has been a few months. Maybe it has been years since you last stepped foot in a parish, perhaps not since your Confirmation day.

And now, you feel stuck. You want to go back—maybe you miss the peace, or maybe you just want to start the Year of the Snake (or whatever zodiac it is) on the right foot. But a little voice in your head is stopping you.

Here is the "Saints in Training" guide to walking back through those doors without freaking out.

Myth #1: "There is a Sign-In Sheet"

Let's get this one out of the way first.

Nobody is checking attendance.

There is no bouncer at the door with a clipboard checking if you came last Sunday. The priest does not have a mental spreadsheet of who missed Mass in 2024.

If you walk in this Sunday, or for the special New Year's Mass, the roof will not cave in. Sirens will not go off. The only thing that will happen is that you will be present.

Jesus is just happy you showed up. He is not tapping His watch saying, "You're late." He is opening His arms saying, "Welcome home."

Myth #2: "The Aunties Will Judge Me"

Okay, this is a valid fear in Hawaii and in Asian cultures. We all know that one Auntie or Uncle who has zero filter.

You are terrified that if you show up at the Andre Dung Lac Mass or your local parish, someone will loudly ask in front of everyone:

"Con đi đâu lâu nay? Sao không thấy đi lễ?" (Where have you been so long? Why haven't I seen you at Mass?)

Here is your game plan:

Don't take it as judgment. Usually, they are actually just worried and happy to see you. They express care through interrogation.

The Simple Reply. You don't owe anyone a 10-point explanation of your spiritual journey. Just smile, bow your head slightly, and say:

"Dạ, con bận rộn quá. Nhưng năm mới con về rồi." (I've been very busy. But for the New Year, I am back.)

That's it. You disarm them with a smile.

Myth #3: "I'm Too 'Messy' to Go Back"

Tết is all about cleaning the house before the New Year arrives. You scrub the floors and dust the altars because you want a fresh start.

You might feel like your soul is too "dusty" to go to Mass. You feel like you have too much baggage, too many mistakes, or too much drift.

Here is the secret: The Church is not a museum for saints. It is a hospital for sinners.

If you waited until you were "perfect" to go to church, you would never go. (Even the Pope goes to Confession!).

The "Soft Launch" Strategy

If you are nervous about diving back into the deep end, try a "Soft Launch":

Sit in the back. It is okay to slip into the back pew. You don't need to sit in the front row.

Go to a different Mass time. If you are worried about seeing people you know, try a different time or a weekday Mass just to get comfortable in the silence again.

Just Listen. You don't have to volunteer for anything. You don't have to join the choir yet. Just sit there and let the words of the Mass wash over you.

A New Year, A Fresh Start

Tết is the perfect excuse. Everyone is resetting. Everyone is looking for good fortune and peace for the year ahead.

There is no better place to find that peace than with the God who made you.

So this week, when you are putting on your Ao Dai or your nice Aloha shirt for the family party, think about stopping by the "Big House" too.

The door is unlocked. The lights are on. And the Owner has been saving a seat for you.

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!