Number 25                                                                                              Christmas, 2003

Well, here is Christmas once again.  Time to pause and reflect.

With that unique sense of God's time-keeping, we are told in the Gospel, matter of factly, "The time came for her to have her child".  Imperial decrees, pushy soldiers, bossy inn-keepers must all stand aside now when the great miracle of life erupts.

Even in our world of scientific advance and genetic engineering, scientists and physicians, as well as the rest of us, still stand dumbstruck before the mystery of new life.

On that night at Bethlehem, it all happened in a remarkable moment - a moment in which God became human, Divinity arrived - born dependent on the nourishment of a girl, in a borrowed manger, with animals for warmth - what a sign in that vulnerability!

Is Christmas just a sentimental pause in a sanctimonious season?  Or is there some really profound significance and meaning in God's rendering himself so small, so vulnerable? 

This Christmas we should look at the figure of the child in the crib and see the God who, like any baby, needs to be found and touched and held and loved by those to whom he has come.

General Chapter Preparation in Australia

The General Chapter Process Group is seen here at West Fairfield in Sydney following a Planning Meeting.
Sr Jan Barnett (a Sister of St Joseph) is the facilitator for the Chapter to be held in Kenya.
She meets regularly with Aengus Kavanagh and Paul O'Keeffe 
to plan the process and business of the Chapter.

On Tuesday the 11th of November a very large congregation attended the funeral of Anthony Visser at Holy Cross Chapel, Ryde, in Sydney.

Tony was a member of the Congregation for twenty-three years. His time as a monk was spent at Fairfield and then Holy Cross. He arrived at Holy Cross in 1986 a very young Brother and deputy  of the College under Br Philip Mulhall. With Philip being elected Australian provincial in that same year, Tony became principal and remained principal until 2000.

Perhaps his main legacy to Holy Cross was putting it in the forefront of technology in education.

May he rest in peace.

At the recent formal opening of the school at Kabonga Bishop Korir of Eldoret makes presentations to the students.	With Philip earlier this year are Andrew Masese and  Peter Oduor, the young Kenyan Brothers  who have charge of this new rural outreach school.

This years marked 150 years since the foundation of Manor House, now St George's College, Mussoorie. Very joyful celebrations were held there from 11 to 13 October with a great number of special guests and ex-students present.  This photo shows Br George, Principal of the College, Mrs Ahluwalia, Br J. Carroll, Principal at Dehra Dun, Major MPS Ahluwalia (India's Mt Everest hero and President of the Alumni Association) and Br Gerald Gannon who first went out to India in 1931 and is, at the age of 92, the oldest living Patrician.

My Soul rests condidently in the animal warmth and the latern light of this simple place, O God. My Spirit rejoices in this time of bringing to life which we share with you. Yes this is the time we have waited for, the moment of blessing. Holy is birth in which you show yourself from age to age in all those who enter into creation with you. You have shown the power of a dream enfleshed and we are humbled in that miracle. You have disregarded our ambitions and anxieties and lifted up this simple, common moment. You have filled this simple place - and simple hearts with the promise you made to us in ages past, the promise and fulfilment of new life.