Greetings in the Light of our Transfigured Christ. On behalf of the General Council and in my own voice as Moderator, I wish each of you and your families all the richest blessings and the purposes of Almighty God for this New Year 2013. We collectively gave thanks to God for all his manifold gifts and blessings in your lives and the Community for the year past at our Mass on December 29th. 

 

As we rise to face this new year, there is no telling what pathways will 2013 intend to open unto us and thereby what kind of journey will be required of us therein. As you would remember 2012 opened just as peacefully and unsuspecting as this year has and it wasn't 3 months before rapid changes took place in the landscape around and in front of us. Changes that called for deep introspection, prayerful and attentive discernment, astute listening and honest dialouge to name only a few variables. I think you would agree that indeed last year strengthened us, if nothing else, to accept the scandal, the agony, the injustice, the suffering of the redemptive Cross of Jesus Christ. It is as though in one swooping swing grace torpedoed us into our Good Friday experience of the Pascal Mystery. 

 

Well I wish to thank all the men, the real men of substance and character, spirit and grace who stood by and with each other and us in the dark halls of our Good Friday. I thank you for your prayers for me, as shepherding is never easy when the road ahead is obviously treacherous but never travelled before by us and seemingly must be trod without a map. 

 

The grace that we counted on throughout last year and must stand on in this new year is the assurance that there is One who has travelled these parts before. He knows this road well and in fact has already determined the only and ultimate destination of this road. Th paschal mystery brothers, only ever unfolds into the Easter Sunday junction, where Death gives way to Life, the Tomb becomes Empty, the scandal of the cross reveals Love Triumphant, Darkness bows out declaring... "What has come into being in him was life, life that was the light of men; and light shines in darkness, and darkness could not overpower it." (John 1:4-5)

 

Brothers, my prayer for each of you this year is that you will plant yourself firmly at the Easter Sunday junction. Do not be afraid, do not despair, do not fear the evil by day nor the darkness of night because no matter how dark your Good Friday roads, they must and will empty into the rotunda of Easter Sunday; standing in Christ, there will always be Resurrection and Light and there is no darkness that can overcome the Transfiguration Light! 

 

In closing this letter I wish to lay gentle reminders and plans for the opening of the CTC Calender 2013. Please note the following:

1. Prayer meeting reopens next week Tuesday 8th Jan in Sando and Thursday 10th Jan in POS.

 

2. Our first Covenant Day of Renewal as usual is tied to the Feast of St. John Bosco and will be held on Saturday 2nd February 2013 from 10am till 1pm followed by a short lunch sharing. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDERS AND RESERVE THIS DATE.

 

3. ALL MINISTRY TEAMS (including Curacao) are asked to hold an internal meeting of its members to plan for that ministry's 2013 calender so we can include those plans in the CTC Calender to be presented for approval by the members on Sat 2nd Feb.   

I eagerly look forward to us gathering again bathed in the light of the One whom we companion in each other. Stay well, pray well, love much and see you soon