Christmas messages to faithful of the Green Bay Diocese

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How will you spend Christmas? Where will you have Christmas?

Those are common questions as we near the great feast of the Nativity of the Lord.

I would suggest that the inquiry could be better worded.

How about, "How will we live Christmas?"

December 25, yes, is somewhat about the past. It is the day we recall, with immense reverence, awe, joy, and gratitude, the birth of our savior at Bethlehem 2007 years ago.

More importantly, though, Christmas is about the now, because Christ was born in Bethlehem precisely so He could be re-born now in the heart of all who believe!

So, for people of faith, Christmas is not only a beautiful invitation to remember but a summons to renewal.

The pivotal question then becomes, not, where will you spend Christmas, or where will you have it, but how will you live Christmas, allowing Jesus to be reborn in you this holiday.

One sacred time this happens is at the Eucharist. The messiah was born in Bethlehem, a name which means house of bread because He is bread for us in the Eucharist.

The savior was placed in a manger, a feed box, because He is food for the world, sustenance for the soul in the Eucharist.

We most have Christmas, we most spend Christmas, we most live Christmas at the Eucharist. When we sincerely worship at Mass, hear His Word, unite with the Church in prayer, open our hearts to His grace and mercy, and worthily receive Him in Holy Communion, He is truly reborn in us.

That's a genuine Christmas present. That makes His coming into the world worth it.

A blessed Christmas to you and your families!

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan
Apostolic Administrator

To my Green Bay family:

It is three months since my departure. You are much on my mind and much in my prayers. Given that this is the first Christmas in four years that we will not celebrate together, I could not let the opportunity pass without wishing you a very blessed Christmas.

Over the course of the last four years, you were so kind in welcoming me to the family of vibrant faith that is the Church of Green Bay. Much like Mary and Joseph who welcomed Jesus; much like the shepherds who welcomed Jesus; much like the angels who welcomed Jesus; much like the Magi who welcomed Jesus; and much like so many untold visitors to that manger in the little town of Bethlehem, you welcomed me. Thank you for providing me the hospitality that you provide for Christ Himself.

As you gather together with your families and friends on Christmas Day, please know that I will be praying for you in a very special way. My hope is that this Christmas Season and all of 2008 will be most blessed and grace-filled.

Grateful for our belief that "Nothing is Impossible with God," I am

Your brother in Christ,
Most Rev. David A. Zubik
Bishop of Pittsburgh

The monastery of our Carmelite sisters has a beautiful location facing East on a slight hill just outside the town of Denmark. As I arrived there for Mass on December 8^th, I paused for a few minutes in the parking lot to enjoy the beginning of a beautiful sunrise off to the East. Standing there, it was easy to appreciate how the early Christians saw in a sunrise the image of Jesus coming into the darkness of our world.

For them and for us, Jesus coming into the world brings us all that is suggested by a sunrise: light, color,beauty, joy and the hope that comes with a new beginning. And it is all a gift, not of our making.

May the Christmas celebration this year be for you and your family and this Church of Green Bay a time of hope and joy.

Bishop Robert Banks
Bishop Emeritus

Most of us have our favorite Christmas hymn. Mine is "Adeste Fideles," "O Come, All Ye Faithful." The song carries our theology: Jesus, the King of angels, is born; God is a God of light; Jesus is begotten, not created; the Word of the Father in flesh is now appearing.  And our response: "O come, let us adore him, / O come, let us adore him, / O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord."

Advent began with John the Baptist pointing to Jesus as the Lamb of God, God's presence among us. For four weeks, in prayer and meditation, we have focused our attention once again on the mystery of the Incarnation and the Nativity of our Lord. Now we gather with family and our faith community to rejoice in God's love and mercy revealed in Jesus.

May this Christmas be a time of a renewal of our faith in the Lord and a time of recommitting ourselves to furthering God's kingdom. Just as God has given Himself to us in these mysteries of our faith, we too are invited to give ourselves to doing the work of justice and peace. If we do so, our Christmas will be "merry" and our lives will be truly blessed.

Bishop Robert Morneau
Auxiliary Bishop