Dear friends in Christ

As we enter the final days of Advent, our thoughts inevitably turn towards the events which led to the birth of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. One of the main protagonists in the narrative is Saint Joseph, that wise and faithful servant of God, foster father of Jesus. Throughout all of the accounts of the Nativity, and the events that lead to it, Joseph utters not a word. Instead, he is the recipient of some dreams and revelations from God Who is directing him what to do, where to go. He never demurs, even if he cannot see where these promptings are going, but enfolds Mary in his strong protective love; he does not question God. Even if there is potential scandal when Mary’s condition is revealed, and he is not the father, nevertheless he remains steadfast. He is a model of fatherhood. His model of fatherhood serves both for those of us who are given the care of a natural family and those of us who are given spiritual fatherhood over our Parish Families. Reading the various Gospel accounts of the Birth of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew and Luke, we quickly become aware that it was not the cute and cosy affair that we are presented with in our Nativity scenes and other depictions of Christmas. It was a messy scenario on several levels. Our lives can be messy too. The Incarnation happened in order to give us hope and create order in the midst of our disordered and messy lives. Let us keep close to Joseph in these days, asking for his prayers, that we may be docile and obedient as he was, to the inspirations we receive from God in our lives.

Our prayerful best wishes go to Bishop Richard Moth of Arundel and Brighton Diocese, who has been appointed by the Holy father as the new Archbishop of Westminster. May Christ the Good Shepherd and Supreme High Priest bestow upon him all he graces necessary for his new ministry.

God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale