Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI
FIND YOUR LOCAL MASS TIMES
This image of the beautiful stained glass window of the nativity is from St. Mary's Church, Hamilton. St. Mary’s served as the first Cathedral of the Diocese of Hamilton after the Diocese was established in 1856. The stained glass windows in the church are rich in colour and deep in meaning, depicting the fifteen mysteries of the rosary. In the Nativity window we see Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus along with angels, shepherds and the kings in the background, the bright star, sheep, and various musical instruments. What is striking about the window is when looking at Jesus, Mary and Joseph you see that their arms are outstretched and their hands are open - a beautiful gesture of welcome and a sign of invitation to the manger. The shepherds were the first to accept this invitation when the angels had gone into heaven, as the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." They went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manager. The outstretched arms and open hands of Jesus, Mary and Joseph have been shining at St. Mary’s for more than 150 years. They remain shining for us today, standing invitations for us to come “with haste" to church at Christmas to share the shepherds' excitement at their encounter with the angels. Let their story be our story too - for a Saviour has been born for us. (Very Rev.) Msgr. Edward Sheridan, PH