May the child who comes in the dark bring light to your life in this holy season. As we celebrate Christmas at the monastery, we will be joined to all our families, friends and supporters in a very special way.

The simplicity of the Christmas story is a source of such great joy. Hardened hearts are softened and wounds healed, not by force or strength of will, but by open hearts moved by the God child.

We join our prayer with the whole church, thinking especially of those most in need.

Francis our Pope continues to be such an inspiration.  We could do well to remind ourselves of his Christmas greeting of 2013 – it is our prayer for you and yours:

Today, in this world, in this humanity, is born the Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. Let us pause before the Child of Bethlehem. Let us allow our hearts to be touched, let us not fear this. Let us not fear that our hearts be moved.
We need this! Let us allow ourselves to be warmed by the tenderness of God; we need his caress.
God’s caresses do not harm us. They give us peace and strength. We need his caresses.
God is full of love: to him be praise and glory forever! God is peace: let us ask him to help us to be peacemakers each day, in our life, in our families, in our cities and nations, in the whole world. Let us allow ourselves to be moved by God’s goodness

View our 2014 Christmas gallery here