C HRISTMAS

M ESSAGE
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call
him Emmanuel, a name which means "God-is-with-us."
My Dear Friends,
“God is with us”. It is the name which takes on added meaning at this time of
year when we celebrate the birth of Christ. This event in our common history
tells us of how God Almighty came among us in humility to live as we live, to
walk where we walk, to see what we see. He does so, not from a lofty throne,
but with us in our sorrow and joy, in life and death.
2020 has been a year that we will remember. In some ways, it has been a lost
year, without any plan or direction, without confidence or certainty. It has been
a year when truth has been shrouded in “fake news” and conspiracy theory and
when we have truly stepped into the unknown. It is not the first time this has
happened. There have been many “plagues” throughout history, but this has
been the first in a world, which is so interconnected and interdependent.
At a personal level, families have been separated, the elderly and vulnerable
have become isolated and loved ones have died. Poverty, depression, anxiety
have increased. Yet there have been moments of celebration …. the dedication
of health care workers, the heroic efforts made for charitable causes and the
deeds of kindness shown to one another. Our parish has witnessed the
thoughtfulness and care for each other through phone calls, bulletins and cards
left in letter boxes, flowers left at the Church door and care for the sick and
housebound. The yearning to attend Mass and the joy and gratitude from our
residents in Nursing homes when they were able to receive Jesus has been
most uplifting. This crisis has been the opportunity for all of us to grow in faith.
In the midst of the worst of times, we may have asked the question “Where is
God in the midst of this crisis?” or “Why can’t God come down and sort this
out?” What is God telling us? Did not Mary and Joseph face similar questions
and challenges? At Christmas, we are reminded that God is in the midst of us,
He has entered this broken world and is Emmanuel— “God with us”. In the
Child born to the family of Mary and Joseph, we see our Saviour, Jesus. With
the courage like theirs we humbly place our trust in God, God with us.
With special Christmas blessings,
Fr. Roman Palma CR