In my native country we have quite a good number of customs or traditions which are connected to our way of celebrating Christmas. I am aware that this is probably true for all peoples on special occasions and at ceremonies. We need rituals in our lives because they help us to express ourselves and live more deeply these particular moments and events.

One of the Polish Christmas traditions is a Christmas Eve meal. Usually it begins with the first star in the sky at night at which time as many members of the family as possible gather together for this meal. It is a time of sharing Christmas greetings, forgiving failures and faults, enjoying the prescribed dishes, singing Christmas Carols (there are more than 500 carols in Polish), opening the gifts, and celebrating the family with tenderness, affection and love.

During this Christmas Eve meal, there is always one empty place set at the table with plates and cutlery so someone can sit down and join at the last minute. There are two main reasons for this tradition: we commemorate those from our families who are not among us because they have passed away and also we say that we are ready to welcome any visitor who might knock at the door of our home, especially if that person is on a journey or lonely on this special night.

However, this empty place at the table was initially thought to indicate that this family gathered at the table remembers Jesus’s coming into our world and wants to invite him to come and stay in their home as He became one of us and a neighbour to each of us.

This is my first Christmas in Bermuda. I know that it will be different, but I am sure that it shall be great because I have already experienced a lot of welcoming, cordiality and kindness. As a newcomer who has actually taken a place at the table of the Bermudian people in the role of the Bishop of the Catholic community, I want to express to every person who lives in these beautiful islands, a Christmas greeting of peace, warmth, grace and love that has come and is still coming to the Earth from the newborn child, Jesus. For those who believe in Jesus, I pray that the Son of God and Son of Man might find a real and stable place in Christian homes, families and lives. May the extraordinary jubilee of mercy that we are living in the Catholic Church inspire us to be merciful as Jesus and accept and love our neighbours as He taught us.

In the name of the clergy and the members of the Roman Catholic Church in Bermuda, I pray that the grace and blessing of Christmas accompany each one of you throughout 2016. Merry Christmas and a grace-filled New Year!