Christmas, that most joyous of seasons, is once more upon us. Days will be filled with shopping, parties, fine food and family reunions, a truly propitious time to thank God for our blessings. It is a time to reflect on the past year and project to the future, not only individually but in common, as citizens of our community, our country and our world. It is also a time to ponder the mystery of the Incarnation, the enfleshing of our God and how this affects our interactions with others in our family, our country and our world. The message of God who chose poverty, humility and self-effacement is clear: we are to emulate those virtues and elect a poverty of spirit that enables us to reach out to others in distress, utilizing the gifts that He has given us to be a beacon of His love. Nothing should give us greater joy than this. But to reach that point where joy consists in serving, in giving, in dying to one-self for the sake of others, one has to have faith. It is so easy to be cynical, to be distrustful and to look with a jaundiced eye at the world around us. Our world is torn by war and hatred, our country by social and moral issues. The reflex then is to turn inward to oneself and avoid the unpleasantness and chaos which seems to prevail in our purview. Faith, however, enables us to look past the superficial and inconsequential, to see beneath the veneer of everyday existence and to look into the heart of God.

The Children seen on these pages, our children, reflect the heart of God. Their indomitable faith shines forth in their joy, in their unconditional love for one another and in their acceptance of our love. Their illnesses and trials do not shake their faith but rather seem to enhance and strengthen it. We must learn from them and fill our hearts with the faith and love they radiate.

We thank you for your moral and financial support. We love you and wish you God's blessings during this most Joyous Season and in the New Year.