ARCHBISHOP JOHN NEILL'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2007

Support those tackling homelessness:
Archbishop of Dublin's Christmas message

At a time when many are returning home from abroad or returning to their childhood homes in different parts of the country, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill in his Christmas Message calls on people to support groups who are endeavoring to face the issue of homelessness, particularly amongst children.

Opening his Christmas Message, the Archbishop of Dublin writes, “Christmas is for most of us a time to be at home. Home is more than a place – it is people - family and friends, who help us to feel at home.”

Continuing he says, “The Christmas story tells us of God choosing to make his home among us in Jesus. Jesus, born in a stable, living as a refugee, and eventually growing up in Nazareth had a variety of experiences of home during his life on earth. Later he says – “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head”. Such deprivation is still part of lot of many in the modern world.”

Referring directly to the plight homeless children the Archbishop writes, “They may have no families, or they may have fled from violence or abuse, but the tragic thing is that they are quickly on a downward spiral. Even if they are fortunate enough to find emergency accommodation, they are at high risk of abuse or of intimidation and indeed of being sucked quickly into the drug culture. Recently in a nationwide survey, children themselves were given an opportunity to say what was most important to them, and the clear answer was that family and care was of the greatest significance to them. The homeless child is deprived of both.”

Urging people to support charities and groups working with the homeless, the Archbishop concludes, “In Jesus, God identifies with human suffering and refuses to stand aside. Christmas is all the more wonderful for us if we share something of the love of Jesus who reached out to all in need, and especially to children.”

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2007 FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN

Christmas is for most of us a time to be at home. Home is more than a place – it is people - family and friends, who help us to feel at home.

The Christmas story tells us of God choosing to make his home among us in Jesus. Jesus, born in a stable, living as a refugee, and eventually growing up in Nazareth had a variety of experiences of home during his life on earth. Later he was to say – “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head”. Such deprivation is still part of lot of many in the modern world. In coming among us, and encountering such harsh realities, Jesus showed us just how real God’s love is.

Homelessness can mean having no home of your own or living in ghastly and overcrowded conditions. At its worst, homelessness involves sleeping rough on the streets, or seeking a bed in an emergency shelter.

Among the homeless are many children, especially those in the early and mid-teens. They may have no families, or they may have fled from violence or abuse, but the tragic thing is that they are quickly on a downward spiral. Even if they are fortunate enough to find emergency accommodation, they are at high risk of abuse or of intimidation and indeed of being sucked quickly into the drug culture.

Recently in a nationwide survey, children themselves were given an opportunity to say what was most important to them, and the clear answer was that family and care was of the greatest significance to them. The homeless child is deprived of both.

Christmas provides us with an opportunity to support those who are endeavouring to face the problems of homelessness, especially among children. It also challenges us each to give to all children the love and security that they so need, and that they tell us that they need.

In Jesus, God identifies with human suffering and refuses to stand aside. Christmas is all the more wonderful for us if we share something of the love of Jesus who reached out to all in need, and especially to children.

- ENDS –