“Greetings from Via della  Conzilliazione, the street that leads us to the St. Peter’s Square” says Fr. Gregory Gay, Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission beginning his traditional Christmas message addressed to all the Vincentian Family in the world. Watch the video or read transcription of the message below.

Nagranie i transkrypcję przemówienia w wersji polskiej
można obejrzeć na stronie Famvin.org

Good evening my brothers and sisters of the Vincentian Family.

And greetings from via reconziliazione, the street that leads us to the St. Peter’s Square as you can see in the background.
Greetings once again, as I was here earlier this year when we opened our Year of Collaboration.

This time I’ve been distant from St. Peter’s Square because of the high security that’s around the vatican at this time. And it’s a bit later at night. I wanna do this in an environment of the coolness of the night,
a night especially when we wanna remember the night when Jesus came among us,to bring us peace,to bring us love,to bring us harmony,to bring us all good things.

We live in a world full of contrasts in these days. And because of the terrorists activities created much fear among the people.People almost paralyzed in not wanting to know what to do. Even creating senses of hope, that world can be a better place to live. And so, we live in this contrast times, and we have the different attitude as Christians.

And attitude that’s not filled with hate, not filled with disgust. But and attitude of peace, love, justice, harmony. And we have to live with the contrasts that surround us. Just by my side, here in front of some other major buildings in the Vatican, there are people sleeping; outside, in a cold.

Later on, when we finish this video we’ll go back home. We have a warm bed to be in it, to sleep comfortably. Yet don’t be here throughout the night living even in fear, sense of insecurity for their own lives.

But, we have to live with that reality. We have to also let it touch our hearts and see what we can do together with our Lords and Masters, the Poor. To change this reality we have to be able to be a people of hope a people of love
people of happiness people of joy.

That’s the message I wanna share with all the Vincentian Family as I celebrate with you my last Christmas as Superior General. Let it be the time when we can work together always as brothers and sisters doing the best we can to make this world a better place especially together with our lords and masters, the Poor.

May God in his goodness in this holy season of Advent and Christmas bring you much joy , peace and happiness not only to your families but to your communities, to your different Associations and movements, but also together with Lords and master, the Poor.

May God give us the health and the strength we need to continue to be firm in our sharing God’s love with all.

So, have a good one, and hopefully, we’ll all meet again in peace and love.

In the Christmas video message from the General Curia of the Congregation of the Mission Fr. Gregory Gay, Superior General says: “We’d like to share with you our understanding of what Christmas means in different languages and from different cultures.”  Watch and listen to short reflections from various members of the Curia [English subtitles [...]]]>

In the Christmas video message from the General Curia of the Congregation of the Mission Fr. Gregory Gay, Superior General says: “We’d like to share with you our understanding of what Christmas means in different languages and from different cultures.”  Watch and listen to short reflections from various members of the Curia [English subtitles throughout]:

Read the transcript of the message:

[Most Rev. Gregory Gay CM, Superior General] Welcome all to the Curia of the Congregation of the Mission. We’d like to share with you our understanding of what Christmas means in different languages and from different cultures. In these days I listen to a song Reggae Rap by a group called “Calle 13″ (13th Street). The song is about street children. And one of the verses that struck me deeply was when the singer said I am nothing, without life, but breathing. For us the message of Christmas is that God comes to us and he says to us, we are more than something, we are who we are, we are his children, and we do breathe, we breathe with that love and share one with another and we are alive, alive with his grace. That’s the message of Christmas. And we hope that we as Vincentian Family can share one with another and especially with our Lords and Masters.

[Rev. Giuseppe Turati CM, Secretary General] Also this year, Christmas message finds us in the time of deep social, political, crisis; international political instability when economic turn down continues in Europe, when many stay without jobs, unemployed, without certain future. Indeed, we have reasons to believe in desparation and to be pessimistic. However, the Christmas message brings us joy naad hope again. The people walking in the shadow of death have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness a light has dawned. These words of the prophet Isaiah are not plain words. They are message repeated during whole Advent which we are living in now. They are the message announcing Incarnation of Jesus Christ. And that light which comes from Christ, which enlightens and warms wounded hearts, lukewarm because of many sadness of our lives. I wish all members of the Vincentin Fsmily spread around the world let you be that light for people of\our time, and especially discouraged, most oppressed by poverty, most prisoners by the darkness of despair. Let it be true in all messages that we share these days.

[Rev. Javier Alvarez CM, Vicar General] We’re already in Christmas. In the letter to Titus, Saint Paul speaks about the Incarnation in terms of grace that leads us to salvation. Us, the people. Grace and Salvation, are the terms. Grace, because it is a great gift, a grand offering which God has given to humankind. to come among us and stay with us for ever. It is a good, always fresh and always alive, and should bring joy to all at Christmas, at this Christmas fro example. And the Incarnation in the term of salvation. The Salvation which is understood and sensed as total and complete. Salvation in an eschatoligical sense, an eternal salvation, but also as a humanization. The Incaarnation is a path to humanization. As a reuslt of the Incarnation we are able to call ourselves brothers and sisters. Blessed Christmas to all the Vincentian Family.

[Rev. Thomas Lunot CM] Listening to this song “I will praise the Mercy of the Lord forever”, I recall the Letter of St. Paul to Ephesians, where he says us, that God is rich in mercy. This time of Christmas reminds us, that mercy is in the face of a child, marked by amezement and joy. The Exhortation of Pope Francis reminds us how much joy is the heart of Christian lilfe.
Also, in the same Letter to Ephesians St. Paul reminds us, that the mission of this Child consists of reconciliation, which God grants us through the cross. During this time of Christmas we ask for transferring this experience of the cross to all ipersons in distress. To whom our Founder, St. Vincent de Paul instructed us to pay special attention and stay in solidarrity wwith them. Eech one according to their abilities, in collaboation with God’s grace.

[Rev. Stanislav Zontak CM, Assistant General] Glory be to the God in the highest and peace on Earth to people of good will. God has decided to show His glory, do that He came among us. He took human nature. As foretold He lowered His divinity to our human naturę? And thus He enriched us. Every one of us has the opportunity to enter into this background. We are able to to draw from this background And to become even younger and better, We can have peace in our life, in our heart. Let us live this holidays well. Let us receive the Good News of Jesus Christ, who lives us. And became one of us, to bring us to Him. Blessed holidays to all.

[Rev. Eli Chaves CM, Assistant General] Hello, everyone! Here we are together to invite all of you to prepare ourselves well for Christmas. Looking at the crib, the picture of the shepherds comes to mind. Luke tells us that, informed by the angels, the shepherds ran to Bethlehem and met Joseph, Mary and the Child. The Good News announced by Jesus is welcomed, in first place, by those who are poor. The shepherds represent those who are poor and despised because they couldn’t fulfill the Law of Moses. They are discriminated against and Jesus comes for them. Like the shepherds, let’s run to Bethlehem to welcome the Good News of Jesus; Good News of liberation and of a new life of inclusion, justice and peace. Let’s go the meet Jesus and renew our commitment to love and serve Him working for a world of inclusion in justice, love and peace. Happy Christmas to you all!

In the picture: (sitting, L to R) Fr. Javier Alvarez, Fr. John Maher, Fr. Zeracristos Yosief, Fr. Gregory Gay, Fr. Giuseppe Turati, Fr. Matthew Kallammakal, Fr. Thomas Lunot. (Standing L to R) Fr. Joseph Geders, Fr. Shijo Kanjirathamkunnel, Fr. Augustinus Heru, Fr. Giuseppe Carulli, Bro. Leopold Myamba, Fr. Stanislav Zontak, Fr. Juventinio Castillero, Fr. Eli Chaves

Radość światu! Przyszedł Pan. Niech ziemi przyjmie swego [...]]]> Joy to the world! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her King…  The Savior reigns…  He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glory of His righteousness and wonders of His love…

Radość światu! Przyszedł Pan. Niech ziemi przyjmie swego króla … Zbawiciel panuje … Rządzi on światem światem prawdą i łaską i sprawia, że ​​narody dowodzą chwały Jego sprawiedliwości i cudów Jego miłości …

Christmas is the time of peace, time of joy, time of triumph of God’s Love. We wish all of you let this time and all coming New Year also be a time of peace, a time of your families, a time of grace and blessings for you and your siblings and friends. Let the New Born King reigns in your hearts and lives, truly reigns.

Boże Narodzenie to czas pokoju, czas radości, czas triumfu Bożej Miłości. Na ten czas i na cały nadchodzący Nowy Rok życzymy Wam wszystkim aby także był to czas pokoju, czas waszych rodzin, czas łaski i błogosławieństw dla Was, waszych bliskich i przyjaciół Niech Nowo Narodzony Król włada waszymi sercami, włada prawdziwie.

Priests and Brothers of the Congregation of the Mission
Province of New England

Księża i Bracia Prowincji Nowej Anglii
Zgromadzenia Misji.