Diocese of Sandhurst
Chancery Office

My Dear Brother Knights,
Christmas season is here and with it comes a wonderful opportunity to show our role as Knights in the modern world, by helping share the hope, peace and joy that Christ brings.
The world yearns for this message, and our Christmas worship should challenge us to go out and play our part in making the world a better place. It is our task as followers of the ‘Christ-child’, born the ‘Prince of Peace’, to carry his message of hope to the world.
Christmas is about new life, about new birth. Let us allow the Christ-Child to be born again in our hearts, in our families, in our neighbourhoods and in our countries!
The opening words of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, states: “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept the offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ, joy is constantly born anew.” This dear brothers, is Christmas! This is what it does! It spreads hope, it spreads peace, it spreads joy!
Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare him room … for Emmanuel, God is with us!
I wish everyone a blessed Christmas!

Most Reverend Bishop Leslie Tomlinson