Bishops call for renewal of prayer, charity and love during Jubilee Year

This Christmas, Australia’s bishops have reminded the faithful of the hope that the Christ child brings to a suffering world and called for a renewal of prayer, charity and love in action during the Jubilee Year.

In his message, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President and Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB quotes from St Paul.

“The words of St Paul – ‘Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer ‘(Romans 12:12) – call us to embrace this Christmas joy, even in the face of the many challenges which confront our troubled world: the ongoing war and violence in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon, in Ukraine and in Sudan, in Myanmar and in so many other places; the devastating floods in Spain; the earthquake in Japan; and the many social and economic challenges which we face here in our own country,” Archbishop Costelloe writes.

“The Christian response to this reality of our suffering world is not to give up in despair but rather to renew our commitment to charity – love in action.”

Townsville Bishop Tim Harris calls on the faithful to take personal responsibility for their words and action.

“As we lurch from one crisis to another yet again, let us always be attentive to the part we play within our own circumstances and context as followers of the Light.

“Whilst the messiah that we welcome at Christmas is the One true light, we embrace Him as individuals who are called to also shine for all the world to see.

“Every one of our words and actions need to reflect this true light however imperfectly, for our name is ‘Christian’. Anything less will give us cause to change our name to something else.”

Canberra-Goulburn Archbishop Christopher Prowse notes that the Church’s Jubilee year begins just a few days after Christmas, saying, “Both unite together under one word: HOPE” and giving gives new meaning to the word,

“Let us start with our homes. May they be truly places of H.O.P.E – Homes of Prayer Experience. Start by gathering around your nativity sets and pray together in perfect silence, stillness and simplicity.”

Read the bishops’ Christmas messages and a message from Catholic Religious Australia below:

Adelaide

Archbishop Patrick O’Regan’s 2024 Christmas message (video)

Ballarat

Bishop Paul Bird’s 2024 Christmas message (written and video)

Bathurst

Bishop Michael McKenna’s 2024 Christmas message (written)

Brisbane

Archbishop Mark Coleridge’s 2024 Christmas message (written and video)

Broken Bay

Bishop Anthony Randazzo’s 2024 Christmas message (written and video)

Cairns