Christmas greetings from the Mission Secretary, Fr. Zbigniew Chwaja, to the Dehonian Missionary Family.
At the Christmas table,
breaking the holy wafer,
remember that this joyful day
was born in love.
Christmas 2024!
Long before the birth of Christ, there was a well-known and meaningful story about Diogenes. The Greek philosopher was said to walk through the city on a sunny day carrying a lit lantern. When asked why he did so, he replied: “I am looking for a human being!” The echo of this persistent call can also be heard today, when believers and people of goodwill joyfully and movedly celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and sing together:
To our hearts, to all sleeping hearts,
a bell has rung today,
and man has awakened.
For the time has come and the Child is born,
and with Him, Little Love has come.
This historical event shows how deeply God cares for us, how much He desires that everyone may come to know His tender love.
Our founder, Father Léon Dehon, recognized in this holy time the need to respond to this love – the need to make reparation for those who reject God’s love. For we live in times when God daily experiences the same drama of rejection by humanity: indifference and lack of love, insensitivity to the good of others, selfishness, and self-centeredness. From the Bethlehem cave comes a fundamental message: first, be human yourself. Serve others. Defend human dignity and honor. Discover in yourself and in others the truth of the human being, who is beautiful, created in the image of God. Respect and support one another.
A Christian is a witness to this small Love that was born in a manger – a person who wishes to share this Love so that others, when they meet them, may say they have encountered a human being, that they have encountered Christ in human form. The missionary family gathered around the work of helping those in need – regardless of who they are, where they live, or how poor their daily lives may be – is living proof that people of goodwill are many. It is a community of people who are not indifferent to the needs of others in Bolivia, Chad, Zambia, the Philippines, and many other countries.
Yes. There are many of us. It is for us that the angels sing above the manger in Bethlehem: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of goodwill.” People of goodwill, on this joyful day of Christmas, must recognize their strength, stand firm, and not allow themselves to be silenced. They are those who do not complain, but act for the good of the Church and of their neighbor. Our hearts have been moved, and we wish to be authentic bearers of the light of Bethlehem in this world – to encourage others and awaken consciences, so that by opening our lives to the Newborn we may go, like the shepherds, with hope and trust, and serve others with joy in our hearts.
Let us wish one another, and act accordingly, so that we may become a cause of amazement for many who, in admiration, will say: “I have met a human being! I have met God in a noble person!” God was born among people. Let us rejoice that He has come to us, that He has become one of us. Let this be the central point of our celebration. Let us keep it in our hearts, like Mary, who pondered and treasured it within herself.
Peaceful and joyful Christmas wishes to all our Missionaries, Donors, Volunteers, and Staff are extended by
Ks. Zbigniew Chwaja SCJ
Sekretarz Misji Zagranicznych