Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

Christmas season is a beautiful time to exchange greetings and to renew our friendships. This is all the more true as long as we are here as migrants away from our home lands. As Bishop of the Vicariate of Northern Arabia, I feel close to you and convey my best wishes to all of you individually and to your families. May the grace and peace of Infant Jesus be with you all in abundance throughout the Year 2012. May He fill your hearts with expectations and a with a new experience of peace in the coming Year.

Above all, Christmas is the feast of the family. We have just celebrated the annual Unity Congress in Kuwait. While assessing our own family situations, the ideals and ideas that were proposed in the Congress should be given a prime place. Christmas becomes another occasion to reflect more on those topics. The papers presented by the speakers and interventions during the sessions will be published through a souvenir. They can help us to understand and to evaluate our life in the family. The Word of God became Man touching all levels of human existence and Jesus grew up in a family situation subjecting himself to all human conditions. Jesus was born and brought up as a child in a caring family. His parents were fully aware of the vulnerabilities of an infant. The Holy Family thus becomes a model and inspiration for our Christian families. Similarly, we have to be witnesses of real family values. Every Christmas is a pointer to such an obligation.

My thoughts reach out to those who are alone here without their family. I understand how difficult it is for you to miss your family at Christmas. May Jesus look after your beloved ones and unite them with you in spirit. I send my special greetings to all of them. May their lives at home be one of peace and prosperity. May the Lord fulfill all their expectations and aspirations in the coming Year 2012.

Once again with warm regards and blessings,

Your Bishop,
Camillo Ballin, mccj
Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia