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December, 2009 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord in our churches and in our homes, we are always conscious of how much our everyday concerns influence the way we enter into this holy time. While these daily concerns can be distractions as we try to bring ourselves into the spirit of Advent and Christmas, the liturgies of these sacred times also work in the other direction and can bring their own influence to bear on these daily preoccupations. The opening prayer for Christmas Mass during the day praises God for creating us and “still more for restoring us.” It reminds us that we have been made a new creation in Christ. The prayer concludes with these words: “Your Son shared our weakness; may we share his glory.” In recent months, the Church has seen just how real this human weakness is as charges of child pornography possession was brought against one of our bishops. It is a painful business. The Liturgies of Christmas speak of the darkness as an image of the destructive things that afflict our lives. Sometimes it is though we live “in a land of deep darkness” and our human failings are a burden that weighs us down. The great evil of child sexual abuse is a dark and horrific crime perpetrated on the most innocent and most vulnerable among us. That this happens to children in our society is a great concern and a deep sorrow for us all. That it is inflicted on children by some among those called to lead the Church is a darkness of great shame and sorrow for all of us in the Church. In his letter proclaiming this year as a Year for Priests, the Holy Father says that such acts can never be sufficiently deplored. But he also reminds us that while we must acknowledge this human weakness we must also realize the gift of God that is present in all the generous pastors who with faith and integrity serve God’s people in the Church. We know also that our Church has responded deliberately and thoroughly to do everything possible to assure that such things will not happen again. These measures are signs of hope and confidence for us. We rejoice that our Saviour is born to the world. As we hear the urging of St. Paul that we “live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly” we also turn to Lord and acknowledge his great love and mercy which brings salvation to us all. It is my prayer for each of you that the “splendour of Jesus Christ our light” will shine its brightness into your life, give you ever-present hope, increase your joy and bring you true peace. Yours in Christ, Daniel J. Bohan Archbishop of Regina |
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