To my dear brother Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and Faithful of the Polish National Catholic Church:
My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As Prime Bishop it is my privilege and distinct pleasure to extend greetings and best wishes to the entire Polish National Catholic Church. All of us are now making preparations to celebrate the Nativity of Christ, Christmas. We will again be reminded of the birth of the Christ Child as recorded in Luke 2:11: ” … to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is the Messiah, the Lord.” We will send and receive Christmas cards, sing the beautiful Christmas carols, and read and listen to the Holy Scriptures that proclaim the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem–that event that changed the whole course of history and even today changes the lives of those who accept Him as their Lord and Savior.
Each year we are reminded that Christmas is that Solemnity that brings us hope, joy, love and peace in Christ Jesus. We know that “… God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”- John 3:16. So all of our celebrations should focus on the fact that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came into the world as the Child in Bethlehem to save us from our sins and to unite us with our Heavenly Father. Hopefully, we will be strengthened in our understanding of this fundamental truth through the Christmas carols that we sing, as well as with the customs and traditions we uphold during the Christmas season.
Therefore, let us make sure that we include Jesus Christ in all of our preparations and in all of our celebrations, for His coming to this earth is the only reason why we celebrate Christmas. Also, let us make sure to prepare a place for Jesus in our hearts! Our Holy Church calls for us to rejoice because Jesus, the Promised One, the Messiah, has come. Let us reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas with every Christmas carol we sing, every Christmas card we send, every Christmas gift we give and every good deed that we do during this holy season. May each of our actions bring that heavenly joy not only to us, but to others as well. May our words and good deeds be a living testimony of our love, honor and respect for the Christ Child of Bethlehem.
When we gather together with family and friends and break the Christmas wafer at the vigil supper or on Christmas Day, let us remember Jesus. When we go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day let us welcome the Christ Child into our hearts, remembering how the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see and welcome the Christ Child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Let us give Him praise and honor as we worship Him during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and receive Him in the Holy Eucharist. Just as the three Magi came to adore our Blessed Lord and to present their gifts to Him, let us adore Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament and offer Him our gifts–our love, our hearts, our talents, our all.
May this Christmas will be one filled with the blessings of the Christ Child for you and your families. May all of us continue to show our love, dedication, service, sacrifice and devotion to Christ through our Polish National Catholic Church. Let us also remember to give thanks to God for the abundant blessings we have received during 2009 and for all of the good that has been accomplished through our Holy Church during this year. May the hope, love, peace and joy of Christ be yours at Christmas and throughout the New Year 2010.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Wesołych Świat Bożego Narodzenia i Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku! Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo! Linksmų Šv. Kalėdų, laimingų Naujųjų metų! Vesele Vianoce i na zdravie v novom roku! Veselé Vánoce a šťastný nový rok! Buon Natale e felice Anno Nuovo!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Robert M. Nemkovich Prime Bishop