Bishop’s Christmas message and video: We journey as Pilgrims of Hope to the stable #Catholic – “The Nativity is a gift of light for our world in need of hope.” – Pope Leo XIV “The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’” Lk. 2:10-12 The words of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, invite us to reflect on “the Word made Flesh,” “Emmanuel, God with us” and the “good news of great joy” as we gaze upon the Holy Family in the Nativity Scene, with which we are so familiar, yet which also can fill us with the great gift of Hope. As we conclude this great Jubilee Year of Hope, we journey once again as Pilgrims of Hope to the stable in Bethlehem to see the newborn King, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Please know of my prayers for you and your families, that you may know the true Joy and Peace of Christmas and that, together, we may share a New Year filled with Blessings. As we celebrate Christmas and conclude this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us ask our God, who is Love, to continue to Bless our Diocese of Paterson, praying that the Peace and Joy of Christmas will lead all people to greater faith, hope, and love in the human family. With every good wish and a prayer for a joyous Christmas and a grace-filled New Year, I remain Devotedly yours in Christ, Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney, DD. Bishop of Paterson    Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Bishop’s Christmas message and video: We journey as Pilgrims of Hope to the stable #Catholic - <img width="150" height="150" src="https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/La_adorazione_dei_pastori_Rubens_Fermo-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /><p><strong>“The Nativity is a gift of light for our world in need of hope.” </strong><strong>– Pope Leo XIV</strong></p> <p><em>“The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.</em><em> For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’” </em>Lk. 2:10-12</p> <p>The words of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, invite us to reflect on “the Word made Flesh,” “Emmanuel, God with us” and the “good news of great joy” as we gaze upon the Holy Family in the Nativity Scene, with which we are so familiar, yet which also can fill us with the great gift of Hope.</p> <p>As we conclude this great Jubilee Year of Hope, we journey once again as Pilgrims of Hope to the stable in Bethlehem to see the newborn King, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Please know of my prayers for you and your families, that you may know the true Joy and Peace of Christmas and that, together, we may share a New Year filled with Blessings.</p> <p>As we celebrate Christmas and conclude this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us ask our God, who is Love, to continue to Bless our Diocese of Paterson, praying that the Peace and Joy of Christmas will lead all people to greater faith, hope, and love in the human family.</p> <p>With every good wish and a prayer for a joyous Christmas and a grace-filled New Year, I remain</p> <p>Devotedly yours in Christ,</p> <p>Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney, DD.</p> <p>Bishop of Paterson </p> <div class="epyt-video-wrapper"><div id="_ytid_68850" data-origwidth="1080" data-origheight="607" data-relstop="1" data-facadesrc="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gBdGdurXHCc?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&" class="__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade no-lazyload" data-epautoplay="1"><img data-spai-excluded="true" class="epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy" loading="lazy" alt="YouTube player" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gBdGdurXHCc/maxresdefault.jpg" /><button class="epyt-facade-play" aria-label="Play"></button></div></div> <p> </p> <div class="epyt-video-wrapper"><div id="_ytid_69918" data-origwidth="1080" data-origheight="607" data-relstop="1" data-facadesrc="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HJhI_c7c93E?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&" class="__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade no-lazyload" data-epautoplay="1"><img data-spai-excluded="true" class="epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy" loading="lazy" alt="YouTube player" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HJhI_c7c93E/maxresdefault.jpg" /><button class="epyt-facade-play" aria-label="Play"></button></div></div> <hr> <h6 style="text-align: center"><a href="https://beaconnj.org/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.</span></a></h6> <hr> - <img width="150" height="150" src="https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/La_adorazione_dei_pastori_Rubens_Fermo-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" />“The Nativity is a gift of light for our world in need of hope.” – Pope Leo XIV “The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’” Lk. 2:10-12 The words of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, invite us to