Christmas presents remind us of our most precious gift: Jesus

Dear Young Church:

Once again, it is my privilege to greet you and at this time of the year to wish you a very blessed Christmas.

As we know, the celebration of birthdays is important, and certainly it is very important that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as our brother and Messiah.

Jesus is the greatest gift given to us by our God. On Christmas, we are grateful for his birth, his ministry and his presence in our lives. As a sign of gratitude for this greatest of all gifts, we share gifts with one another in order to celebrate Christmas and as a reminder that Christmas is a time to share the gifts that God has given to us.

I know that you will join your family for Mass on Christmas Day. As we pray for our own intentions, we must also remember the children your age who are living in poverty, persecution and unsafe conditions because of their faith. Let us not forget them on Christmas Day. 

The Lord Jesus, born over 2,000 years ago, is the one who lives in your heart and calls you to live a life of faith. 

Wishing you God’s blessings, I am a brother in Christ,

Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond
Archbishop of New Orleans