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Christmas
Bishops offer invitation to experience the peace of Christmas
In their annual Christmas messages, Australia’s bishops have reminded the faithful that the peace, hope and joy of the Nativity can be an antidote to a world that is marked by war, poverty and despair.
Christmas gifts and parties are fine, but don’t forget Jesus: Pope
Exchanging Christmas gifts and organising holiday parties are all well and good, but Christians should contemplate the scene of Jesus’ birth to recover what is truly important during the Christmas season, Pope Francis said yesterday. Source: OSV News.
Hope and joy arise ‘when we face life’s messiness together’
Common Home TV, a multimedia initiative of the Redemptorists of Oceania, has extended “An Invitation to Christmas” to the world in its annual multilingual Christmas message.
Holy Land churches ask communities to forgo public Christmas festivities
Public Christmas celebrations that are usually an integral part of Advent and Christmas in the Holy Land will be absent this year not only in Gaza, but in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and Amman, as well. Source: National Catholic Register.
Cathedral turns on the Christmas lights
Sydney Archdiocese is set to transform the St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt into the spectacular centre of Christmas celebrations in Sydney.
Catholics can receive a plenary indulgence by praying before a Nativity scene
Catholics will be able to receive a plenary indulgence by praying before a Nativity scene in a Franciscan church as part of the 800th-anniversary celebrations of the Rule of St Francis and the creation of the first Nativity scene. Source: CNA.
Nativity scene echoes beauty of our faith: Pope
Whether simple or elaborate, the same every year or constantly changing, a Nativity scene echoes “the beauty of our faith”, Pope Francis has written in the introduction to a new book. Source: CNS.
Vatican Nativity scene to honour 800th anniversary of St Francis’ creche
On the 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assisi setting up the first Nativity scene, the creche in St Peter’s Square in 2023 will come from the Italian Diocese of Rieti, and pay tribute to the scene set up in the diocese in 1223. Source: OSV News.
Ukrainian Greek Catholics to celebrate Christmas on December 25
From this year, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church will celebrate Christmas on December 25 instead of January 7 and the Epiphany on January 6 instead of the 19th. Source: Vatican News.