WELCOMING THE INFANT JESUS

All of us love Christmas. Christmas is such a beautiful time of the year. There is so much loveliness that surrounds us during this month of December, the glow of the lights, the decorated trees, the carols, the crib, and the extra kindness and charity that people show to one another.

We have come to the last day of Advent. This year the Advent season is quite short and Sunday is the only day in the Fourth Week of Advent. To celebrate a beautiful Christmas the Church has set four weeks for our spiritual preparation. We have started Advent with high hopes and set some great ways to prepare for the Lord’s birth.

This Christmas, everyone brings lots of gifts during Christmas family get-togethers and you too may get something. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” (Jn 3:16) and what can we give Jesus this Christmas? He only wants us to voluntarily trust Him. Jesus wishes to have first place in our lives before anything and anyone. We choose to place Jesus first in all things and even in all our troubles, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God and trust in Him,” (Jn 14:1). As we give Jesus our trust, make Him first in our life and bring others to Him, then we are giving Him gifts far more valuable than the ones the Wise Men brought (gold, frankincense, and myrrh,” (Matt 2:11).

Last Saturday, 16^th December, we distributed 325 school uniforms for the underprivileged students. We are really proud of the Parish Integral Human Development Ministry (PIHDM) and the volunteers for the successful distribution. The committee also organised some entertainment with songs, activities and games to bring warmth, cheer and fun for them. They served lunch as well.

Thank you for the tremendous support, encouragement and contribution from our St Joseph’s community towards this annual campaign that so positively affects the lives of many underpriviliged students and their families. Before the year ends we will be distributing provision of groceries for 100 low income families. Thank you for making our Christmas outreach a memorable one.

During this year’s Christmas Mass we are privileged to be using Oman Frankincense from Oman. The finest and highly prized Frankincense in the world comes from this country. A friend of mine bought this for us from Oman to be used during the Christmas season. It is uniquely fragrant and we shall use it to aromatise the house of God this Christmas. Praise God!

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON, AND ALL THE BEST IN THE NEW YEAR 2018! MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES BE BLESSED WITH PEACE, LOVE AND JOY.