THE YULETIDE MESSAGE OF OUR PRESIDENT

Dear Franciscans and Anthonians,

My warm Greetings to one and all!

“O come all ye faithful joyful and triumphant!” This familiar hymn reminds us of the season of Advent, a time traditionally marked for remembering the years of preparation and consecration prior to the coming of the Messiah.
While we wonder and decorate, bake and shop, rush about and entertain, may we keep uppermost in our minds the reason for the upcoming celebration and the most perfect gift that God gave us.

Let us take a moment this advent to reflect on how many times did we show our commitment and service to our less fortunate brothers and sisters and to those people who are in need of our love and compassion.

For many of us, commitment may mean a short term relationship without a strong foundation. For others, it may signify a contract with monetary value. For children, they sometimes see no commitment to family from their parents. Real commitment doesn’t have an on and off switch. It doesn’t expire. It is an emotional connection to the work of an individual, and it is precisely that connection which directly links commitment to the heart. Commit yourself to be an example. Commit to serve. You have been given a gift by God to use His Service. And it is that service culture that gives every Franciscan and Anthonian a competitive advantage. It is in this commitment and service that we feel a profound sense of fulfilment and satisfaction not to ourselves but by serving others.

If you look at Christ’s birth and death with today’s eyes, you could think that He was a loser. He was condemned to die in spite of His love to mankind. But His commitment to save the world gave Him strength to carry the cross.
You have entrusted with one or more gifts and it is your responsibility to find out what it is, to polish it up, develop it and use it for God’s glory.
His life-saving mission was complete when he rose from the dead. Our mission is to give our utmost love, our prayers, our time and availability to those in need. This is what commitment and service is all about. It is helping and giving without expectations of anything in return. It is a self sacrifice that only a few understands.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year!!!!