Archbishop Paul’s Christmas message – 21 December 2023

Archbishop Paul shares a video message as we head into Christmas.

“Hello everyone. I just wanted to take this opportunity of Advent and heading into Christmas to send my greetings to you and to express my gratitude for all that has happened in the Archdiocese of Wellington this year. It has been quite a year for us, for myself as becoming the Archbishop, and for the Archdiocese as we move into another phase in its life. Really grateful to the wonderful Parish communities that I’ve been able to visit this year for the warmth of welcome, and for the work that is going on in them, especially in that call to to be people of mission of growing in love with Christ ourselves and then going out and spreading that with other people. We live in interesting times to say the least but in a world that seems to think that God isn’t necessary we want to be people who show that not only is he necessary but that living a life and relationship with him is wonderful and that’s one of the great things about Christmas as we once again come to reflect and celebrate the birth of Christ. God made man walking on this Earth who then died and rose for us and that’s a really wonderful reality to celebrate. I hope that for each one of you that this Christmas is a blessed time time with your family and friends. It’s also a time that can be really difficult for a lot of people and so I really do ask that you look out for those who may be struggling at this time for whom Christmas is not a time of great joy through sadness from the past or things that have happened recently. I encourage you to look out and to reach out to them. We’re all very conscious too, of the war and strife in our world that happens in all sorts of places. In particular, we hear about Ukraine and what’s happening in the Holy Land at this time but we remember all of those who are suffering and we pray for peace, and we work to do all we can to encourage peace. May blessings be with each of you this Christmas and may the holiday time be one of rest and relaxation and blessings for the 2024 year that lies ahead. Kia ora koutou, thank you, may you be blessed this Christmas.”