Christmas Message from Fr Richard 2025

As we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of Jesus, our hearts may not be so filled with joy and hope but rather searching for them. The traditional message of ‘Peace on Earth’ has an urgency about it this year once again. Headlines, local and international, are dominated by stories of war, violence, social injustice, unrest, and immense human suffering, from Gaza to Ukraine, Sudan to Syria, Australia to Ireland. We see innocent victims—especially children—whose childhoods have been devastated by aggression, hunger, and displacement. We rightly ask, where is the Prince of Peace amidst such turmoil?

 

Yet, the message of Christmas reminds us that God chose to enter into this darkness not as a powerful conqueror, but as a fragile and vulnerable child in a humble manger in Bethlehem; a place that, even today, is a focus of conflict. In Jesus, we find Emmanuel, ‘God with us.’ This is not a naive hope that denies the reality of suffering; rather, it is the profound assurance that we are never alone in our struggles. The peace and hope that Christ brings is not merely the absence of war, violence, and struggle, but a deep-seated hope that transcends worldly circumstances. It is a call to action, inviting us to be instruments of His peace in our own lives, homes, and communities. We pray that we can be a source of light, support, and hope to people overwhelmed by circumstances not of their own making. With God’s grace, may we all work together to make our world a better, more peaceful place.

 

It is my privilege on behalf of Fr. Tadeusz, Fr. Stuart, Deacon Brian, and our Parish Pastoral Councils to extend to you and your families every peace and blessing for this Christmas and New Year. We are grateful to all who make life in our Parish vibrant and faithful. We are blessed with many people who share of their time, talent, and gifts to make our parishes the wonderful places that they are. Many take an interest in all that is celebrated and organised, and they support us in our endeavours. We are thankful for people’s involvement and support in any way. Everything done and given, makes a significant difference. 

 

We thank our Sacristans, Readers, Eucharistic Ministers; Choirs, Cantors, Organists and Musicians; Church Carers, Collectors, Counters; Secretaries, Parish Website design and updating, Finance & Building Committees, Child Protection Officers; Baptismal Teams, Prayer Groups, Parish Faith Representatives, Alpha Team; Cemetery/Church Grounds keepers, and Crib design, preparation, and decoration. To them and to all who help in our Parish, we say a big “Thank You.”

 

I pray that you and your families, may you experience something of the hope and peace which God has blessed us with through the presence of the infant Jesus. 

 

Wishing you a truly blessed and peaceful Christmas and a New Year filled with hope.