Christmas Message 2018❄

In the midst of winter, the world can seem a dark and hostile place. There is so much sadness and uncertainty in the world, that it can often be easy to think there is no hope. But, as Christians, we know that in the midst of darkness there is light and there is hope – and that light and hope can be found in a vulnerable baby, lying in a manger.

As we wait in the final days of Advent to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation, we know that the Christmas story is about a light that the darkness cannot overcome. That light is the promise of Emmanuel – that God would be with us. Even in our bleakest times we know that God is there, with us, loving us.

One of the ways we know this is through the presence of his priests. Priests are called to the task of shining the light of Christ into the darkness of people’s lives. I am sure that priests up and down the country are getting tired of people saying to them ‘this must be your busy time of the year’. Yes, Christmas is a busy time of the year, but our priests are busy each and every day shining the light of Christ into the darkness, of making the Incarnate God present to people, of helping people to know that God is truly with them in the ups and downs of life. Here at the ACS we wanted to say a special thank you to all our priests for the remarkable work that they do, not only at Christmas but all through the year. In the ordination service, they are told that they must, with all of God’s people, ‘tell the story of God’s love’, and so they must make the good news of the Incarnation and Christmas a reality in people’s lives each and every day.

Finally brothers and sisters can we ask you all to please pray that God will give us more priests to do this. Pray also for our priests, that they will be strengthened by the love of the Holy Family as they bring light to the darkness of people’s lives.