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I pray for your blessings this Christmas.  

May the God child Jesus make you smile with joy and wonder! Cuddling the baby in their arms for the first time, some mothers have told me what  complete joy and beauty the little person brings to their lives.  I can imagine the cry of baby Jesus creates the natural response from each one of us to stop what we are doing in order to give the time and loving care that the child needs.  Like any other child, I see the baby Jesus available and happy to give a beautiful smile.  With time, the child is very generous and willing to play with you as long as possible.  The little child is ever ready to love and trust, willing to be held in the arms of the beholder.  Born totally innocent and helpless, the baby has nothing bad or evil within that can be passed on.  The baby’s fundamental need to love and to be loved shows the nature and equal dignity of the human person. Full of an amazing desire to love and to be loved, Jesus is calling all of us to be and do the same.

The baby Jesus will grow and when ready to leave home to start his ministry, he will give his followers one commandment instead of 613 commandments that had to be followed in the Torah. Jesus will say: “this is my commandment: Love one another as I have loved you and there is no greater love than this: to give one’s life for one’s friends….”  (John 15:12-13).  .  We can recall moments in our lives when we felt totally loved and truly loving. I cannot forget the love and sacrifice my mum had to make so that we might have food and school fees. As adults, we remember the times when we were not truly loved as well as when we failed to love unselfishly. Yes, there is such an absence of love and peace in the world. Terrible crimes and wars are widespread across the globe. Where sin and evil forces are allowed to prevail, the dignity and beauty of the human person is being destroyed.  In order to challenge and change this situation, the almighty God has come down to be born of a woman and live with us as the God-child Jesus.  Saint John says God so loved the world that He sent Jesus as the Saviour (John 3:16). For love alone Jesus will die on the Cross on Good Friday and all is lost for a moment!   Jesus conquers death with his resurrection and multiple appearances to his friends. Jesus lives on and his Church will never die. 

May the season of Christmas be a time to pray for each other and for peace in the world!  Please pray before meals the Lord’s Prayer for peace in the world. As we make extra efforts to pray especially within our churches / worshiping communities, we remember to pray for people who live within Sileby, Syston and beyond, particularly those who may be struggling in any way.  We light a candle and pray for the safety and protection for all travellers and holiday makers.  We welcome anyone who may wish to attend the following Christmas Services in The Divine Infant of Prague Catholic Church at 63 Broad Street in Syston . 1) Christmas Carols Service on Sunday 20th December at 3.30pm. 2) Midnight Mass starting with the singing of Christmas Carols at 11.00pm then Mass at 11.30pm. 3) Christmas Day Mass at 10.30am.   We have the Christmas Eve Mass in Sileby at 6pm and Christmas Day Mass in Sileby at 9.00am. 

​With my prayers I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2016. 
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