As we prepare to celebrate, once again, the coming of the Son of God in the Person of Jesus Christ at Christmas we are conscious of the fact that the 'Christmas event' is celebrated in diverse climes throughout the world and the manner of that celebration is brought to us vividly through the technological means of communication.
As we glance at the varied ways in which people of the young Churches, throughout the world, prepare to welcome the Child of Bethlehem, I call to mind a unique experience I had this year, during a visit to one of these Churches. I experienced enthusiasm and freshness of faith which indicated that faith if Jesus the Saviour has truly taken root in fertile soil. I experienced the vibrancy of the Church, this past summer, during a pastoral visit to the Church in Nigeria, specifically to the Province of Onitsha. For two weeks I had the joy of experiencing a veritable 'springtime' in the life of the Church, which left me overjoyed and enthusiastic, especially as it is the very Church in which I had begun my priestly ministry, some forty two years ago. I had been invited there as an Irish Missionary so that the local Church could render thanks, through me, to all the great Irish Missionaries, from Bishop Joseph Shanahan to the present day, who have laboured to spread the Kingdom of the Lord in that fertile land.
The highpoint of my visit was the privilege I had of ordaining nine young men to the Ministerial Priesthood. Since being a missionary means helping to establish a local Church, the ordination of local Priests is a major and vital step in that direction. In that vibrant Church in Nigeria I saw how the faithful live out their faith doing exactly what we do here in the Diocese of Cloyne, but doing it with enthusiasm and conviction: going to Mass on weekdays and Sundays, making every Eucharistic encounter a true celebration of the Community through active participation in word, song and rhythm; receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion with deep devotion; praying the Rosary together and singing the Praises of the Lord at every encounter in Church; being involved locally in every aspect of Parish life, in schools, hospitals, catechetical centres, work for justice and peace, and all charitable activities for the welfare of the less well off. One thing that struck me forcibly was the enthusiasm the Catholics of the Onitsha Province of Nigeria have for Church. They make the Church live with vibrancy because they are Church. We have much to learn from this young Church to which we, as a missionary Church, have given much.
As we come, this year, to welcome the Infant Jesus of Bethlehem let us do everything we can to make of Christmas the occasion it should be. Let us put Jesus at the heart of our Christmas celebrations and not allow the secular pressures of the time to highjack the real significance of what we are about. Indeed, this year, we have every reason to give a truly Christian welcome to Jesus among us as it occurs during the celebration of the special 'Year of the Eucharist' (Oct.2004-Oct. 2005) inaugurated recently by the Holy Father. As we celebrate this Christmas, may we Christians make every effort to own this Feast and to give it the flavour it really deserves, the celebration of God's presence among us. Let us be Church in our celebration because we are Church through our Baptism. The Holy Father has asked: "In this Year of the Eucharist Christians ought to be committed to bearing more forceful witness to God's presence in the world. We should not be afraid to speak about God and to bear proud witness to our faith" ( Apostolic Letter: ' Mane Nobiscum, Domine'). When we visit the Crib this Christmas and marvel at the mystery depicted by the figures, especially that of the Infant Child, let us not fail to recognize also the living presence of the Lord in the Eucharist and let us not fail to welcome Jesus as our personal Saviour into our lives and our homes.
May Christmas 2004 be, for every family and parish in this Diocese of Cloyne, an occasion of great renewal in faith: faith in the Presence of God in our midst, faith in the uniqueness of God's presence in every person we meet and greet and, particularly, faith in His Eucharistic Presence so that, throughout this 'Year of the Eucharist' we may be inspired to spend more time in His Presence, in adoration and prayer.
May the Peace and Grace of Christmas be with you and your family and may the New Year usher in an era of respect, love, peace and justice among all the peoples of the earth.
+ John Magee.
Bishop of Cloyne.