Press Releases01 Jan 06

Archbishop Robin Eames - New Year message

As a new year dawns hope and confidence must be key words for our whole community.

The problems which confront us are many - but so are the possibilities for progress at every level. No one can deny the lessons we have learned from our past of failed initiatives at a political level. No one can take pride in failure - but we can all benefit from the knowledge of why those attempts failed. Let us pray that fresh efforts to find stability in government and administration of this Province will make real progress in 2006.

But at the personal level reconciliation cannot be enforced. It comes from hearts and minds which want to move forward with confidence, justice and openness. History will not judge us kindly if we allow old animosities to dictate how we regard each other. Memories run deep throughout this community. But it is how we deal with memories which will determine our future.

May God guide and strengthen us all as we try to move forward in 2006.