Our best wishes for a year of peace !
This is undoubtedly a peculiar year, when it seems that the death of the Holy Innocents preceded Christmas…
Our Europe-Mediterranean region is at the heart of the turmoil: refugees are arriving in large numbers on the coasts of Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain, still mourning those who did not survive the journey; Syrian refugees are arriving in Turkey and Lebanon; the violence in Israel and Palestine is unleashed; the Ukrainian conflict continues to exile families, particularly to Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Poland… There’s no need to go on with the list: it’s enough to show that all Districts of RELEM are affected.
How can we be, in all these places, signs of hope, outstretched hands, tangible proof that violence does not have the last word? Michel Scouarnec’s song still rings out with the same acuity:
Will we leave in our churches a little space for the foreigner?
When he comes, will he find hearts of poor and hungry?
Don’t let the earth die, don’t let the fire die :
stretch out your hands towards the light, to welcome God’s gift.
Happy Christmas, welcome par excellence to the Prince of Peace.
May God grant us, throughout 2024, the grace to be workers of his Peace!
Br Joël, Jean, Tomeu and Br Enrico
