Prot. No. 01-005/2025
Feast of the Nativity 2025

Beloved Members of our Diocesan Family:
Christ is born! – Glorify Him!

With overwhelming joy and spiritual exultation, we greet you on this most holy and life-bearing Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ! The heavens rejoice, the earth echoes with angelic hymns, and humanity itself is renewed, for the Word of God, the eternal Son, has taken flesh and dwelt among us, enabling us to behold the glory of the “true God of true God.”

As the Prophet Isaiah foretold, the Virgin bears a Son, and His name is called Emmanuel, which is, interpreted, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). This divine mystery reveals God's profound love for His creation, a love that bridges the chasm of sin and offers us participation in His own divine life. The Incarnation is not merely a historical event but a transforming reality, making it possible for us to become “new creations” in Him.

Today, we are called to journey with the Shepherds to the cave in Bethlehem, to behold the wonder of God made man, and to join the heavenly host in praising His glorious birth. Like the Magi, we bring our humble gifts – not gold, frankincense, and myrrh; but our lives, our talents, our time, and our hearts, offering them to the Infant Messiah. Let us follow their example, not just visiting the Christ-child, but departing “to our own country by another way,” choosing to turn from our worldly paths and embrace the way of Christ.

In this world, often shadowed by darkness, fear, and division, the light of the newborn Christ shines as the ultimate hope and peace. Let us not be deafened by the noise of the world, but listen for the quiet, yet powerful, call of the Incarnate God. Let us beautify our hearts with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and offer the enduring gift of forgiveness and reconciliation to our families, our neighbors, and even our enemies. 

May this Nativity be a true spiritual awakening for each of us. May we offer our Incarnate Lord our renewed faith, our deeper love, and our unwavering commitment to live as His true disciples. Let us become living icons of Christ, reflecting His meekness, His compassion, and His divine light to a world in desperate need.

I offer my heartfelt prayers for you, your families, and all who seek peace. May the blessings of the new-born Savior fill your homes with grace, joy, and heavenly peace, now and always.

With love in the Infant Messiah,

Archbishop of New York and the
Diocese of New York and New Jersey