Christmas message: John Craddock, National Spiritual Adviser, Society of St Vincent de Paul

Christmas is the time when people remember and relive the birth in Bethlehem two millennia ago of the One who brings hope to our lives today. For us there is also a strange paradox that in that Palestinian town, focus of Christmas, there is less than concord among neighbours. The mission of the Jewish Jesus is still not complete: to bring peace to all people of good will.

The St Vincent de Paul society, nearly 4000 strong, young and old, throughout our land, and 750,000 mainly Catholic Christians worldwide, strives to continue this mission. We try to transcend barriers with offerings of good will.

In the name of the same Jesus Christ, we strive to live his Gospel message of good news, fraternal solidarity and attentiveness to the needs of others.

We are grateful to the thousands of people who support us in our outreach to those who seek help from us, especially from our Vincentian shops.

THANK YOU ALL. Yes, those who receive and those who provide. In human contentment, our vision is raised to seek the divine within and without.

The season of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas is appropriately named Advent. It means "coming to", but we can also add to the word so that it becomes Advent-ure. For the Season of Advent does challenge us to see God's vision for his people: to see what is yet to be, to hear God's voice calling us anew, to smell God's scent in our world. To move in these uncharted areas is adventure.

Seeking our truth, both old and new, creating a more just world, preparing a way for the coming of God, is a thrill of mind and heart and soul. When we witness the Spirit of God among us, moving in our air, over our lands and upon our waters, making our world whole, there is excitement and adventure.

Vincentians hope that you will feel the joy of Christmas wherever you are, and spend a moment or three reflecting on the background to this season of festivity. So a happy Christmas to you all who read this and may you enable some other to enjoy better this God-moment in our busy lives.