From The Rt Reverend Paul Colton
Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

We often say "Sure Christmas is just a time for the children". And of course, many, but by no means all, children do have a ball as they lose themselves in a world of twinkling lights, colour and tinsel, gift-wrap, surprises and treats.

The sad reality is that so many of us who are adults see only the child of Christmas. We see a baby in a manger - a warm, straw-scented crib-like scene where everything is in its place.

But Christmas is more challenging than that. The child in the manger grew to be the adult Jesus who turned so many accepted and respected things on their head. His family were refugees. He went through the daily slog in the family workshop. He lived in an occupied country. He came face to face with human suffering among friends and strangers. He knew hunger and homelessness, prison torture and death.

In every sense we've got to face up to the challenges of this adult Christ of Christmas. There are many human situations that demand our neighbourly response, the volunteering of our time, as well as our prayers, generosity, encouragement and support.

In Cork, with our strong sense of local community we are well placed not only to do this for one another this Christmas but also, as we've always done, to set our minds generously on needs further afield too.

May the joy of the Christ-Child be yours this Christmas and may you know Christ alongside you throughout your journey in 2001.