From the Director of Faith, Mission & Learning

We have so very much to be thankful for from what has been a year like no other. I encourage us all to think of the blessings in our life as we reflect upon this year that has past.

I encourage you to count twice those people as your graced moments. 

As we move off to our summer and our holidays, we are grateful for the past, even with it's alternatives, and hope-filled for the future. Our promise is the promise of love, agape love of God to Creation through the incarnation of the baby jesus. We remember our mothers, with Mary the Mother of God as our model, in our kindness and love for our families, our friends and those in our community. We have been blessed to welcome Fr Kevin Medilo SM & Fr Kevin Redmond SM as our Parish Priests. Next year they will be joined by another Marist Father, and have already made an impact in our College community. They are most welcome.

One of the most famous Christmas songs is ‘O Holy Night.’ We have a number of famous chart topping renditions from Mraiah Carey through to John Groban and everyone else. If you go down the slippery slope of renditions you will even find heavy metal versions...go figure, right?

O Holy Night was originally written in French and has a deep and storied history. There is something about the music and lyrics that rouses our souls - for God so loved the world that he gave his only son (Jn 3:16) on that O so Holy of nights .

Fighting in World War I was temporarily ceased while French troops sang the song to their opponents on Christmas Eve - in the midst of terrible darkness of war remained an everlasting hope and longing for families at Christmas.

In Fallujah, Iraq in December 2004, to convey a message of love from home, the Rev. Ron Camarda, a Catholic priest and Marine Reserve major, sang “O Holy Night” at the bedside of a dying American Marine, wounded on a military mission.

To this day, “O Holy Night” is sung at Christian churches of all denominations around the world and it remains a much-anticipated high point of the Christmas celebration. Its power lies not only within its elegant lyricism but also within the music of the piece itself. The main melody is one that continually rises and falls, imitating Christ’s descent to earth in the form of an innocent child; a simple act of divine power. 

Christmas presents an opportunity each year to truly reflect upon what is most important in people’s lives. Family, friends, food and gifts are all joyful and important parts of the season, but O Holy Night speaks of something deeper that an explicitly Christian holiday is such a stronghold of the world’s cultural celebrations.  What Jesus brought on Christmas transcends words, but “O Holy Night,” in its beauty, puts to music what words cannot do justice.

For the all that has been, "Thanks!" For all that will come, Yes!

May the peace and joy of the Christ child be with you and your families throughout a Blessed Christmas and a healthy and safe New year.