Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

http://southerncross.diosav.org Vol. 88, No. 45 Thursday, December 18, 2008 $.75 per issue Bishop Boland: “The Lord Jesus is in our midst” Christmas and New Year’s Greetings Christmas 2008 Dear Friends in Christ: The Year 2008 witnessed many significant events in the Diocesan family: April saw 229 new Catholics embrace the faith at the Easter Vigil celebrations in the Diocese of Savannah. The Lord Jesus is in our midst. May witnessed the ordination of 22 men to the Permanent Dia- conate after five years of prepara tion. The Lord Jesus is in our midst. June saw the ordination to the priesthood of Mariusz Fuks. Since the dawn of the new millennium, the Diocese of Savannah has been blessed with 24 newly ordained priests. These vocations are truly an answer to your prayers: “give the men you call the light to understand your Gift...”. The Lord Jesus is in our midst. July brought hundreds of thou sands of Catholics to Sydney Australia, for World Youth Day. Different nations, different flags, different languages, different cus toms—but the same Christ, yester day, today and forever. The youth ful pilgrims from the Savannah Diocese were part of the joyous occasion. The arrival of Pope Benedict in Sydney Harbour, the riveting Stations of the Cross through the streets of Sydney, the closing Mass at Randwick Race course with the Catholic youth of the world, were moments of spe cial splendor. The Lord Jesus is in our midst. Continued on page 12 November brought the “One in the Spirit” event to the Georgia Fairgrounds in Perry, Georgia. Different parishes, different insti tutions, different banners, different languages, different families—but the same Christ, yesterday, today and forever. Four thousand repre sentatives of the diocesan family joined together in a special day of “No one, whether shepherd or wise man, can approach God here below except by kneeling before the manger at Bethlehem and adoring him hidden in the weakness of a newborn child. ’’ —Catechism of the Catholic Church, 563 Saludo de Navidad y Nuevo Ano Navidad 2008 Queridos Amigos en Cristo: El ano 2008 presencio muchos eventos significativos en nuestra familia Diocesana: Abril vio a 229 nuevos Catolicos acoger la fe en la celebration de la “Pastor o mago, nadie puede alcanzar a Dios aqui abajo sino arrodillandose ante el pesebre de Belen y adorando a Dios escondido en la debilidad de un niho. ” —Catecismo de la Iglesia Catolica, 563 Vigilia de Pascua de la Diocesis de Savannah. El Senor Jesus esta en medio de nosotros. Mayo presencio la ordenacion de 22 hombres al Diaconado Permanente despues de cinco anos de preparation. El Senor Jesus esta en medio de nosotros. Junio vio la ordenacion al sacer- docio de Mariusz Fuks. Desde el amanecer del nuevo milenio la Diocesis de Savannah ha sido ben- decida con 24 ordenaciones sacerdo- tales. Estas vocaciones son ver- daderamente una respuesta a nues- tras oraciones: “Concede a los hom bres y mujeres que llames, la gracia para entender tu don...”. El Senor Jesus esta en medio de nosotros. Julio trajo miles de Catolicos a Sydney Australia para La Jornada Mundial de la Juventud. Diferentes nacionalidades, diferentes banderas, diferentes lenguajes, diferentes cos- tumbres, pero el mismo Cristo, ayer, hoy y siempre. Los jovenes peregri- nos de la Diocesis de Savannah fueron parte de este alegre encuen- tro. La llegada del Papa Benedicto XVI al Puerto de Sydney, el impre- sionante Via crucis por las calles de Sydney, la misa de despedida en el estadio Randwick con jovenes Catolicos de muchos lugares del mundo, fueron momentos de espe cial esplendor. El Senor Jesus esta en medio de nosotros. Noviembre trajo el evento “Unidos en el Espiritu” a la feria de exposition en Perry, Georgia. Diferentes parroquias, diferentes instituciones, diferentes pancartas, diferentes lenguajes, diferentes familias - pero el mismo Cristo. El Senor Jesus esta en medio de nosotros. Continued on page 12 The Holy Family—Mary, Joseph and Jesus-are depicted in a painting titled “The Presentation in the Temple” by Canadian Catholic artist Michael D. O’Brien. The Christmas season begins with the December 24 evening vigil and ends on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, January 11 in 2009. Special Christmas Edition rphis special Christmas Edition of the Southern Cross is being sent to all registered parishioners in the Diocese of Savannah, as well as to our current L subscribers. Those not currently subscribing, who wish to subscribe, should fill out the form on page 2 and deliver it to their parish with a check for $20 made out to their parish. Please note that the Southern Cross will not be published on December 25, 2008, or January 1, 2009. The next issue will appear on January 8, 2009.