Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, a Blessed Christmas to you all. My greeting comes at a time marked by sad and troubling news for our city, our nation and our world. The joyful news of Christmas competes in these days with stories of street violence in our city, of wars, conflicts and acts of terrorism throughout the world including in our own nation. As people of faith, we must read these "signs of the times." As we do, so Christmas gives us a proper perspective: the sadness of violence and war does not have the last word. God has come to save us, for we cannot save ourselves. The savior born to us raises us up from darkness and brings us into his own wonderful light. One of the Christmas readings taken from Paul's letter to Titus says this: When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared,not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us" (Ti 3:4-5). We hear those words "because of his mercy," especially as we celebrate the Jubilee of Mercy this year. The challenge for us is not just to believe that God is merciful, but also to believe that God is merciful to us and that God is blessing us with his mercy precisely at this very moment, and in the limited circumstances of our lives and relationships. When we accept that mercy, we will be transformed and become the merciful light of God in a dark and cold world. Then, our own works of mercy will, in turn, bring hope, healing, and renewal, just as God's mercy has done for us. May God bless you and your families with his mercy and enable you to be the hands of his mercy in our world. Sincerely yours in Christ, Most Reverend Blase J. Cupich
During iftar dinner, Cardinal Cupich calls for ceasefire in Gaza Cardinal Cupich called for a ceasefire in Gaza, along with the release of all hostages and an increase in humanitarian aid, during his remarks at the 24th Annual Muslim-Catholic Iftar dinner March 13 at the Islamic Foundation North in Libertyville.
Giving trees a part of Christmas charity at parishes Fifty years ago, Margaret Hilliard, a parishioner at St. Gilbert Parish in Grayslake, read about giving trees in a magazine and thought it would be a good thing for her church to try.
Pope marks 800th anniversary of Nativity scene, asks prayers for Holy Land Away in a cave near Greccio, Italy, St. Francis of Assisi had the first Nativity scene — a live one — staged for the faithful on Christmas Eve in 1223. A 15th-century fresco now decorating the cave inspired the Nativity scene erected in St. Peter’s Square for the 800th anniversary celebrations.