Bishop of Fall River issues Christmas message to those throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands
THE FALL RIVER Catholics in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands have received a Christmas letter from Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., of the Diocese of Fall River.
The following is the message:
Greetings, fellow followers of Christ,
I put my trust in You, O Lord, since You are my hope (Psalm 146:5).
How beautifully this old Psalm captures the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Because of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, a transcendent light of hope appears amid the winter’s darkness. According to Pope Francis, this is the time when hope first appeared. We get to experience that feeling of hope from a lowly manger in Bethlehem through the birth of the Christ child. Our Christmas celebration ought to be energized by that feeling of hope.
Our era is filled with hardships and gloom. War. poverty. mistreatment of people who are escaping disturbance in order to improve their own and their families’ quality of life. We also face personal challenges, which could be brought on by disease, unstable finances, or family strife. Christmas, however, serves as a reminder that God is still with us.The Word took on human form and settled among us (John 1:14). We find courage and solace in the hope and joy that the Savior brought with him. The light of Christ continues as a beacon of love, hope, and, in the coming Jubilee Year, rebirth, much like the lighthouses that adorn our coast and the islands.
Pope Francis, the Holy Father, will formally kick off the Universal Church’s Jubilee Year 2025 on Christmas Eve by opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He has chosen as its themePilgrims of Hope, writing,We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. As a precursor to the rejuvenation and rebirth that we so much seek, the next Jubilee can significantly aid in reestablishing an atmosphere of optimism and trust.
The Jubilee Year offers us a wonderful opportunity to reinvigorate our faith, and as a Diocese, we are looking forward joyfully to this event, which the Holy Father has said will beof great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church.
As part of our observation of Jubilee Year 2025, you will soon discover more about the chances for recommitment, reconciliation, and rebirth in our Diocese of Fall River. I encourage all our faithful people to become pilgrims of hope and, like the three Wise Men we commemorate on Epiphany, welcome Christ with open hearts, minds, and a desire for hopeful transformation.
As we commemorate the birth of our Lord and Savior, I really wish that we will all be rejuvenated and restored throughout this Christmas season. During this Jubilee Year, I pray that His light will lead us and that His serenity and hope will fill our hearts and homes.
I wish you and your loved ones a very happy, joyful, blessed and Merry Christmas.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.
Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.Bishop of Fall River
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