Christmas Message From Fr Richard

Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year

The celebration of Christmas can bring very mixed emotions to this time of year. It’s a time of family get togethers, the returning home of those who have been away, missing those who can’t get home and indeed, especially for our parish over the past year, the deep searing pain of remembering those who have gone home to the Lord.

In the course of all of this with the frenetic activity of preparing with presents and food etc… it’s a wonder any of us can survive the day itself! But survive we do and celebrate we do because deep down it’s about the birth of Hope into a world gone slightly (tongue in cheek here) … mad! No more than at the time of the Lord’s birth, our world is fraught with war and division. We need to believe that somehow, all will be well. We need to believe that reason, civility and understanding of the other person can be achieved. That Hope comes in the person of a little child who transformed the world into a better place. Our faith recognises God becoming one of us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth – He walks with us still because He is risen. It is my prayer for all of you that you keep this hope alive in your hearts and lives for 2025, a Year of Jubilee the motto of which is we are all “Pilgrims of Hope”.

I wish to express my sincere thanks to all of you for your support in my work as PP and Rector, for your patience, goodness and good humour, which we all need!

Every blessing and may Our Lady of Knock, St Joseph, St John and the Lamb of God be your guide and inspiration.

Fr Richard