Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
A blessed and joyful Christmas to you, your families, and your loved ones.
At Christmas, I am always moved by the simple tenderness of the manger scene. A child wrapped in swaddling clothes, a mother’s quiet gaze, a father standing watchfully nearby – nothing dramatic, nothing loud. And yet, everything changes. God chooses not power or splendour, but simplicity and closeness. In the vulnerability of a newborn child, God draws near to us and invites us to draw near to Him and to one another.
This tenderness is at the heart of Christmas. In a world often marked by uncertainty, division, illness, and anxiety about the future, the birth of Jesus reminds us that God does not abandon us. He enters our lives gently, patiently, and often quietly – to grow with us, in us, and among us. As the Gospel reminds us, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1 :14).
This Christmas carries a special meaning for me, as your bishop. Over these past two and a half years, it has been a true joy and a blessing to minister among you. I am deeply grateful for your faith and for your generosity in sharing your time, talents, and treasures with your parish communities and those in need. This Jubilee Year of Hope has been filled with many graces, and I thank God for all that we have shared and experienced during this year.
Hope, as we have learned throughout this Jubilee Year, is not simply wishful thinking about tomorrow. It is something we live today – when we pray, when we forgive, when we return to the sacraments, when we care for one another, and when we trust that God is still at work, even in small and hidden ways. As Saint Paul assures us, “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5), because it is rooted in God’s faithful fulfilment of his promise.
As this Jubilee Year draws to a close, and as we have begun the pastoral renewal in our diocese, let us pause and ask how our own lives reflect God’s faithful journey with His people- a journey that begins in Bethlehem and leads toward the fullness of the Promised Land. Like the Magi, and like so many faithful men and women who have gone before us, may we continue to seek Christ, allowing His light to guide our steps and renew our personal relationship with Him.
I invite you to celebrate Christmas with your parish communities, where the mystery of Christ’s birth continues to be made present among us. I also warmly invite you to join us at the Basilica Cathedral on December 28th for the closing of the Jubilee Year of Hope, as we give thanks for the blessings received and entrust our future to the Lord who continues to journey with us.
May these Christmas celebrations renew our love for Jesus. May the Child born in Bethlehem fill your homes with peace and your lives with hope. And may we place ourselves confidently in the hands of the newborn Jesus, trusting that He will lead us now and always.
Please know that you and your loved ones are remembered in my prayers, especially at the celebration of the Eucharist during this Christmas.
I wish you a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.
With gratitude and affection,
Most Rev. Joseph Dabrowski, C.S.M.A.
Bishop of Charlottetown