I wish to extend best wishes and prayers to all for a blessed Christmas and a happy 2006.  I am also joined in these greetings by the men and women of our staff and the members of the Student Campus Ministry Team.

This has been a very hectic yet productive year and I am delighted to have such a supportive team around me. This being my sixth year as pastor and chaplain, it is also the first year I am surrounded by practically all extroverts on the Campus Ministry Team! I say this in good humour since I am somewhat the opposite in nature and they love to tease me about it. While it might indeed be a challenge to find "quiet" in the house, nonetheless I would not trade their enthusiasm, good nature, and "noise" for anything. Their care, generosity and compassion for the community, for one another, and for their God, is an inspiration like no other. I am confident the future church will be in good hands, knowing only too well how much it is being cared for in their current ministry. Their enthusiasm will certainly be of benefit to whatever local community of faith they join beyond Newman. They are a blessing and joy to have around and they really enjoy the fact that they can be themselves in such a busy place. My support staff at the Newman Centre is equally gifted and inspiring. They love working at Newman and appreciate all it offers them. Yet, Newman is all the greater because of their presence and support.

I also wish to thank all of you who make up the more permanent membership of the Newman community, all our alumni, and religious, for your continued support and presence. Newman is your parish, too. In you, and through your witness, you are an important presence, especially to the young. They depend on and are encouraged by your support as they serve the community in ministry during their university years. Your witness of faith is an example to them. I am sure you, too, are all the better for their enthusiasm and witness as well. In this vision of community all play a crucial role.

I thank all who faithfully serve in our parish organizations, outreach ministries and liturgical ministries. We have experienced much growth this year. I think the need to add a third Mass is one example of this, yet it also points to the willingness of all to undertake new and creative challenges. I am grateful for this spirit of openness and support.

On a more personal level, the past year has been filled with many unique surprises. Who would have imagined I would one day be leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, or to Rome for a papal funeral? The Holy Land experience and the opportunity to take a group to the funeral of Pope John Paul II, last April will remain two great highlights of my life. I know many seemed surprised to learn it was my first visit to both locations; however, it was made all the more meaningful by the fact the pilgrims were essentially from the Newman community. To travel and pray with people from your own parish is a privilege like no other! I was especially pleased so many students were involved in each experience. I hope we can provide similar experiences of pilgrimage in the future.

The past year was also marked by a personal trip to Ireland to visit the land of my birth. This followed an absence of almost fifteen years! While only a week, I travelled with good friends, and enjoyed every minute of it! A highlight was a visit to relatives, and to St. Aidan’s Cathedral, located in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, the place of my birth, and the church in which I was baptized and made my first communion. Be assured you were remembered in prayer at that site!

However, only in this last week, the week before Christmas, perhaps the most unexpected surprise occurred. My aunt, Bridget Leighton, passed away in England at the age of 89; she was my father’s eldest sister. I quickly made arrangements to travel to London to officiate at her funeral and burial. I was so pleased I could go. It was a special privilege to do this, not only because I wanted to celebrate the Mass, but because she was the aunt I often visited during my stay in England with the U.S. Air Force, and prior to joining the seminary. In many ways, she and her family became a second family for me while I was away from home. As such, there was no doubt in my mind that I needed to go and celebrate her funeral Mass. I am grateful it occurred at a time which permitted me the few days to go and return without too much distraction prior to Christmas. While a terribly hectic few days there and back, my tiredness was completely overshadowed by the joy of being present to those most in need. It was indeed a special gift from God to be able to attend and be with her family. The saying comes to mind, "...blood is thicker than water..."  Do remember that and take good care of your families and loved ones!

I conclude, wishing you all a most joyful Christmas. I leave you with a thought drawn from the responsorial psalm of the Christmas Midnight Mass. In Psalm 98, we hear the invitation, "Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous deeds." I don’t know about you, but have you ever wondered what it means to sing a new song?

Perhaps the following story might be of some help in discerning this. There is a custom, in African villages, that whenever something new or exciting happens, the people actually compose a “new” song to mark or celebrate the occasion. What was sung previously did not seem to capture the freshness of the new experience. As such, they composed a new song.

This Christmas the Gospel will be read again. Perhaps we can find new meaning by carefully listening, once again, to what God has to say to us in Christ Jesus.

Jesus is sent into our world as light in our darkness. He reveals to us God’s presence and love in a way which is both staggering and awe-inspiring.
Let the message of Christmas sink into your hearts and minds and let it refresh your hearts and spirits. Ponder the mystery. Unpack the gift that God gives us in Christ Jesus.

This is, and has always been, the greatest gift we could ever receive.
The "Good News" is that God has made his salvation known (Psalm 98), in Jesus Christ. While this has already happened in history, how is this news fresh and alive in our hearts and minds today? Going a step further, what might it demand of us in terms of how we might plan to live it out? Read the Christmas Gospel, again, and let it sink in. Perhaps in some way, it might cause us to raise our voices in praise to the God who comes to us in Christ Jesus.

God bless you and let us continue to pray for one another.

 

- Fr. Pat O' Dea

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