Bishop’s Message and Prayer
Happy Christmas from the Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat
Dear Friends,
Christ's Love and Peace be with you.
Words can wear thin like clothes, when used constantly. Nevertheless at certain moments it is very necessary to say clearly what is always true and what is always understood. Those who love each other and weave their lives together cannot and need not all the time to talk about their mutual feelings, but there are moments when their love ought to find expression also in words.
The occasion of the Millennium and the first feast of Christmas in this new period provide a welcome opportunity for the Eparchy of Adigrat to say a heartfelt “Thank you” to all the many people who support its work. We always hear the question of St. Paul like background music in all our labours: “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor 4:7) Yes, beside all spiritual care to foster faith in the Lord and hope and love, the Eparchy makes great efforts to improve the lives of people, in the field of education so that the young can embark on their journey well prepared, maintaining health facilities where the sick would otherwise be left in their helplessness, fighting against the scourge of AIDS by supporting those affected and seeking to prevent further infections, providing for the poor and assisting them to improve their condition, running social projects to ensure food security and to counteract the insidious deterioration of the land. Yes, a lot of work is done “that they may have life and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10).
Obviously, very little of all this activity could be done without means in hand, means that we would never have, were they not received from the kindness of those whose generosity we are privileged to channel to those who without any fault of their own have to live in the shadow of poverty and on the margin of the abundance of God's creation.
We wish to thank you for your confidence and the wonderful kindness to share your goods with those less fortunate. The Diocese is deeply aware that it merely plays the role of the steward who serves the table of the hungry not from his own store, but with goods that he himself has received. We try to fulfil this task conscientiously with all the care and diligence required. The task is enormous, but cooperation will make it possible. Let us remain inspired by the thought that Jesus poured the Father's love into the lives of the poor, the sick and downtrodden, who crossed his path.
May the light of our living faith in Jesus shine in your thoughts, your words and your actions for the glory of God the Father and for the joy of every human person whom He has created in His own image.
God bless you with a Happy and Peace-full Christmas.+ Abune Tesfaselassie Medhin
Bishop of the Eparchy of Adigrat.
