Bishop Connell: despite the darkness in our world, especially in the Holy Land, the light of hope, of faith will endure

Yesterday, in Columba Centre at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Paul Connell, Monsignor Joseph McGuinness and Fr Brian Kavanagh, for the community of staff working for the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference, as well as for guests and colleagues from other charities also serving the mission of the Church.

During his homily Bishop Connell said: “When I was appointed bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois by Pope Francis last year, I chose Deus Spes Mea – God is my hope, as my episcopal motto. A motto is defined in the dictionary as ‘a brief statement used to express a goal or ideal’. I chose it for a number of reasons, especially because it expresses what is at the heart of our Christian faith: its core message is that God overcomes all obstacles through the fire of hope.

“We live in a troubled world where all around us there is difficulty and pain, so much so that at times we are inclined to despair.

“What is needed in all of us – you and me – and for all those who believe in Christ, is that fire of hope. This is the gift that we give to others and pass on to our children. The people who have gone before us have left us a legacy of perseverance in the faith, keeping Christian hope alive in their time.

“Now is our turn to persevere, so that this same light of hope shines from us. We do not know what the future brings, but we do know that the flame of Christian hope can continue to burn brightly, even in the most difficult situations.

“The beauty of the Christmas message is the hope that is found in this weak and vulnerable Christ child who has come to save us. We are reminded of the love that God has for each of us, that He is a kind and merciful God. We are reminded that despite the darkness that engulfs our world today, especially in the Holy Land, the light of hope, of faith will endure.

“To quote Pope Francis:

Let us exult in this gift of grace!

Rejoice you who have abandoned all hope,

for God offers you His outstretched hand;

He does not point a finger at you,

but offers you His little baby hand,

in order to set you free from your fears,

to relieve you of your burdens and to show you that,

in His eyes,

you are more valuable than anything else.

“I wish every one of you a blessed, peaceful Christmas, full of the joy and peace that the Christ child brings into our lives,” Bishop Connell said.

Staff attending the Mass represented the Bishops secretariat and those working in the areas of Justice and Peace; Towards Peace (the pastoral service serving survivors of abuse); child safeguarding; Synodal Pathway; Accord Catholic Marriage Care service; Emigrants; Prisoners Overseas; Catholic education; Catechetics; Drugs and Alcohol Initiative; Finance; and, Communications.