Bishop's Christmas message: Let community, carols, music, and liturgy carry you - Kilkenny Live

Last January I was ordained Bishop of Ossory and what a joy it is for me now on the occasion of my first Christmas here to pray God’s blessing on the people of the Diocese.

I know that I do so at a particularly challenging time for our country and world as we struggle with the ongoing consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, horrible wars in Ukraine, the Holy Land and elsewhere, the housing crisis, growing levels of inequality and the challenges involved in creating a genuinely multi-cultural society in Ireland. And this in addition to the high levels of meaningless and nihilism which are sadly characteristic of our society.

In the midst of these challenges, we need to be reminded of the true message of Christmas — often obscured by the crass materialism which dominates the public square — that we are in fact a much-loved part of the most blessed family of all, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ whose birth we now celebrate, true children of God.

I think it is timely to remember that the origin of the very term ‘Christmas’ is found in the earliest recorded form of the English language, Anglo Saxon, where it is rendered as ‘Cristes maesse,’ literally, ‘Christ’s Mass’.

This underscores the long tradition, over many generations of Christian witness in these islands and beyond, to attendance at and participation in the Mass, in the Eucharist, at Christmas.

So, my prayer now for Christians of all hues during this Holy Season – Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox – and for others who search for meaning too, is to go to church this Christmas and let the sense of community, the lovely carols, music and liturgy carry you. And my deepest hope is that you will imbibe something of the true meaning of Christmas, that God is with us in Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Knowing this is the secret to happiness, to blessedness, empowering us to hope and love, to love of both God and neighbour. The striking relevance of this message was recently signalled by Pope Francis when he recalled the more than 3,000 children who have died in Gaza since the outbreak of war in the Holy Land, as well as the more than 500 children who have died in Ukraine and the thousands who died during the years of war in Yemen.

The Pope asserted that it is only by loving God and loving one another that ‘the world [can] rediscover the light and the peace that it needs’ and which was proclaimed by the angels who announced Jesus’ birth. We must never tire of working for peace and justice everywhere.

May I wish you and your families a happy and blessed Christmas. Beannachtaí na Nollag oraibh.

Niall Coll
Bishop of Ossory