From the Desk of
Bishop Edward U. Kmiec

December 25, 2005

My dear Friends,

Greetings in our Lord, Jesus Christ, whose coming to us on earth as our Savior is remembered anew as we again celebrate the feast of Christmas.

Blessed by God to have been called to serve you as Bishop of Buffalo, I am grateful for that grace and for this opportunity to celebrate the glorious feast of Christmas with you, and to extend to all of you my prayerful best wishes for this holy day and in its holy season.

As with faith and joy we recall the birthday of our Lord, may we welcome Him into our hearts and lives as the true light of the world, and experience with great joy and gratitude the gifts of love, hope, and peace He offers with His coming on earth.

Very often, we speak of the true spirit of Christmas and our longing for it. I find it expressed in a little verse I recently came upon:

"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 the holy days of Christmas and in the year to come.

+Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec
Bishop of Buffalo