From the Desk of
Bishop Edward U. Kmiec

December 25, 2004

Dear Friends,

As I celebrate my first Christmas among you as the new Bishop of Buffalo, I am grateful for the opportunity on this joyous feast to extend to all of you my prayerful best wishes for a most blessed Christmas. May we all again rejoice at the immensity of our Lord's love for us, to descend to the earth as man at that first Christmas, to give us the hope and promise of salvation and peace on earth to those of good will.

Some time ago, I found a Christmas poem of unknown authorship that I felt captured the spirit of this holy day: "Christmas is more than a day at the end of the year, more than a day of joy and good cheer. Christmas is really God's pattern for living, to be followed each day by unselfish giving. Then peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day."

In that spirit, may the grace and peace of Jesus, born of Mary, reign in your hearts in these holy days and in the year to come.

+Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec
Bishop of Buffalo