Tomorrow evening, on Christmas Eve, during Mass in St Peter’s Basilica Pope Francis will inaugurate the Holy Year. On the following Sunday, 29th December and the Feast of the Holy Family, every bishop will inaugurate the Holy Year in their diocese during Mass in the Cathedral. I will do so in St Columba’s Cathedral during the 10.30am Mass. The Holy Year’s theme is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. We are all on a journey through life and Pope Francis invites us to journey with hope. Throughout the Holy Year we will have many opportunities to reflect on the reason for that hope which is based not our our own abilities but on God’s love. Indeed the very birth of Jesus reveals the depth of God’s love and I pray that during this Christmas Season our hearts will be renewed in hope.
+Brian