Dear brothers and sisters,
On this Christmas day, our eyes turn toward the manger, toward the Child who is so poor and yet so rich in love. By becoming small and vulnerable, Jesus teaches us to see differently those who live with fragility, need, or loneliness. He reminds us that the greatest treasure is often found where the world does not look.
The Child of Bethlehem shows us that true wealth is not found in what we possess, but in what we share. Every act of solidarity becomes a real way of welcoming Christ into our lives. In this way, Christmas is not only a feast to celebrate; it is a call to live charity in concrete ways.
In this season of joy, I invite you to take simple yet essential actions: visit someone who is alone, extend a helping hand to a family in need, or offer a bit of your time to those who lack it the most. These gestures, sometimes quiet and unnoticed, truly change the world—one heart at a time.
I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who already give of themselves generously in service to others. Your commitment is a living witness to the Gospel. You are the face of God’s goodness amid our people.
This Christmas, may our homes open wide, may our hearts grow larger, and may the light of charity illuminate our daily lives far beyond the holiday season.
I wish each of you a Christmas filled with peace, simplicity, and generosity.
✠Marcel Damphousse
Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall
