A Christmas and New Year Blessing

A Christmas and New Year Blessing 

Dear Parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Peace Pastoral Area,

As we celebrate the joyful season of Christmas, we remember the humble birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, a place of profound significance for our faith, and one that continues to know suffering today. At this sacred time, our hearts are held not only in joy, but also in compassion. We cannot ignore the pain endured by so many across our world. The people of Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, along with countless others, live daily with the reality of violence, loss and displacement. Their suffering reminds us that the Christmas message is not sentimental, but deeply real: God chooses to enter a broken world. Yet Christmas is, at its heart, a proclamation of hope. Christ is born among us not to remove all struggle instantly, but to transform hearts, beginning with our own. The Prince of Peace calls us to be people of peace: through prayer, generosity, kindness, forgiveness and a renewed commitment to justice and compassion.

As we step into the New Year, may we do so with courage and faith. Let us open our doors and our hearts anew to Christ, allowing His light to shape our homes, our parishes and our communities. Even small acts of love,
offered faithfully, can become signs of hope in a troubled world. Wishing you and your families a joyful Christmas and a New Year filled with faith, peace and the gentle presence of Emmanuel, God with us.

With every blessing,
Fr. Gerry, Fr. Pat, Fr. Brian and Fr. Sijo