Christmas messages from religious, political leaders |23 December 2017
‘God has come to share with us the experience of being human!’
“The child in the manger reminds us of this tremendous truth: God is one of us; He has this great desire to show us that He shares with us the experience of being human. The way in which He came: in great love ( Mary's motherly love, Joseph's care and loving responsibility) and humble simplicity ( the shepherds, the crib, the manger, the animals...) invites us all to give thanks to God for the gift of life and all that life gives us. No one is excluded from visiting the manger, neither the educated and well-off ( think of the wise men from the East), nor the simple and poor (like the shepherds, who were the first to come to adore Him).
“During this Christmas period, let us be grateful for all that we have, for all that we are. Let us also share the wonderful news that God is with us in all that we are and all that we undertake.
“Following the example of the Holy Family, let us strive to welcome all members of our family during this festive period especially those with whom we have little or no contact during the rest of the year. We are invited to be more caring and attentive to those members who are sick and who are lonely. Also, perhaps we can make space in our home to welcome in our family for a few days one of the children from the Foyers who have been estranged from their family.
“Christmas is a festive period. We wine and dine with friends and family and this is a wonderful celebration. However, Let us also think of those who are alone and who have no one with whom to enjoy the festive season. When I was in Rome for a period of my ministry, the church group I was working with used to organise a Christmas dinner for all the lonely and less well-off people they were in contact with and with any one who wanted to join in. The members of this group were thinking of the Christmas Gospel account which says that there was no room in the inn for Joseph and Mary....!
“The joy of Christmas is an inner and spiritual joy! Its a joy that illuminates our soul and fills it with great peace: God is with us! With me! May this great peace be with you at Christmas. May our families be united and filled with the love of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. May we be at peace with each other as we strive for a brighter future for our Seychelles.
“A very Merry Christmas to one and all!”
Bishop Denis Wiehe
Roman Catholic Church
***
‘Bondye i kontan nou’
“4 Me, kan letan fikse ti’n arive, Bondye ti anvoy son prop Garson ki ti ne koman en et imen, anba soumisyon lalwa.” Galatians 4:4 BSK
« Mon bann ser ek frer, nou ankor enn fwa pe selebre lafet kot Bondye i pran laser en et imen e vin enn antre nou e avek nou. Parol Bondye i dir nou ki letan ler fikse ti’n arive, Bondye ti anvoy son prop Garson.
Son letan i parfe: I ti vin dan en konteks spesifik. Ti annan “Pax Romana” sa lape e stabilite ki ti’n ganny etabli par bann Romen. Grek ti en langaz komen e kiltir Zwif ti prezan la kot ti annan kominote/prezans Zwif. Bann Zwif ti pe priye e pe esper zot Mesi, Kris, sa enn ki ti’n ganny konsakre pour vini. E ti annan en vid. Sa bann bondye Grek e kiltir bann Romen pa ti kapab satisfer bezwen bann Zwif. Zot ti pe esper en keksoz pour arive.
« Dan plizyer fason sa ti en moman parey letan aktyel ozordi, kot nou’n vin sitan dezespere avek bann keksoz lemonn. Pour dir klerman, nou pa dezaprouv lenkonpetans ek larogans bann dirizan lemonn. Nou dezapwente ki imen i kapab fasilman ferm lizye lo Bondye e rezet son bann komann dan zot lavi. Bokou parmi nou ozordi pe rode e sers bann keksoz pli konkret e satisfezan ki sa ki zot war e eksperyanse. Alor, serten parmi nou i aprezan annan en gran depandans lo lalkol, drog, seks e konfor materyel. Nou pe vin en sosyete materyalis e si nou kontinyen lo sa larout, nou pou vitman eksperyans en enstabilite finansyel.
“Lepep ki ti pe marse dan fernwanr in war en gran lalimyer. Bann ki ti pe viv dan en pei fernwanr, en lalimyer ti briye lo zot.” Ezai 9:2 – pou “laglwar Senyer” sa in briye otour bann lanz ki ti proklanm nesans lemesi avek bann berze dan Lik sapit 2.
“Bondye i kontan nou – sa i mesaz Nwel – e i montre son lanmour pour nou. I pa kit nou dan fernwar pese, mesanste e lanmor, fernwanr dezespwar e depresyon, me i vin enn parmi nou dan son garson Zezi Kri. “Lik i rakont zistwar familye son nesans. I en zistwar ranpli avek lalimyer. Lalimyer Bondye i briye dan fernwanr lo montanny kot bann berze ti pe vey zot mouton, e en lanz ti aparet e laglwar Senyer ti briye otour zot e zot ti debout oubyen petet zot ti tonm lo zot zenou avek ladorasyon.
“Apre lanz ti proklanm sa bon nouvel ki donn tou dimoun en gran lazwa: ‘Pour zot in ne ozordi dan lavil David, en Sover, li menm Mesi, Senyer.’
“... profesi Ezai i ganny akonpli. Lalimyer Bondye i briye dan lemonn dan li, e sa lalimyer pou kontinyen briye dan lavi e minister Zezi, parey ki bann levanzil pou dir, e pli tar dan son soufrans, lanmor e rezireksyon. Avek sak aksyon lanmour, Zezi i sirmont fernwanr. Lavi imen i pli briyan; tou kreasyon i pli briyan.
“…bon nouvel Nwel i ki Bondye i vreman kontan nou e lemonn, malgre sa fernwanr. E lavolonte Bondye i lalimyer.
“Zezi Kri i lalimyer Bondye dan sa fernwanr. I avek nou dan nou fernwanr. Atraver nou lafwa e nou konfyans dan li, i ed nou e sov nou. I avek bann dimoun ki pe soufer isi e partou atraver nou minister dyosez e minister bann legliz dan provens.”
« Mon swet zot en Nwel Zwaye e Beni ek en nouvo lannen 2018 ranpli avek lape ek prosperite.
“Ansanm pour Son laglwar.”
Arsevek James Wong Yin Song
Arsevek Legliz Anglikann dan Losean Endyen e
Levek Legliz Anglikan Sesel
***
Prezidan Parti Lepep i swet tou siporter en zwaye Noel
« De la par Parti Lepep, mon oule swet tou nou siporter en zwaye Noel ranpli avek lape, lanmour ek lazwa.
« I en letan pour selebre nesans Zekri Kri. I en letan ki nou pas antre fanmir ek zanmi. I en letan pour donnen e pour resevwar, pour pardonnen e rekonmans de nouvo, en letan lespwar ek zibilasyon.
« Sa lannen in enn remarkab. Nou’n sirmont bann defi. Ansanm nou pe transform nou Parti pour en meyer Sesel.
« Pour sa Nwel, annou remersye Bondye pour tou son benediksyon ek son proteksyon lo nou fanmir, nou zanmi, nou koleg, e nou pei. Vreman Sesel i en pei beni.
« La ki nou pe prepar nou pour akey sa nouvo lannen, mon envit zot tou pour partaz sa mesaz lespwar pour 2018. Ansanm nou pou reste dan linite. Nou determinen pour pa kit okenn Seselwa deryer.
« Mon swet zot tou en lannen ranpli avek lazwa ek prosperite. »
Vincent Meriton
Prezidan Parti Lepep
***
LDS extends Christmas wishes
“On the occasion of Christmas 2017, the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) extends warmest wishes to all the people of Seychelles.
“LDS chairman Roger Mancienne joins other Party Leaders, Members of the National Assembly and District Representatives of LDS to wish everyone a joyful celebration in the spirit of peace and unity. May we all share in the blessings that this holy occasion promises to people across the world.
“Christmas is the appropriate moment for us to recall and restore the values of humanity that we hold and wish to live by. May it be a celebration of truth, honesty, love and compassion for all. In that light, let us dedicate our thoughts and give our support where we can to all those who are in need of food and shelter and who are victims of aggression and violence, in our own country and in the world. We will be living the spirit of Christmas if we extend kindness and help to anyone around us who may be in need of support.
“Many of our concerns through this year will be echoed in what we wish for Christmas. In 2017, we have faced the challenge of promoting truth and national reconciliation. The occasion is one that should strengthen our resolve in this goal. It also reflects our desire to make Seychelles a better country, one that is safe and secure for everyone and one in which our children can learn and grow to become responsible citizens.
“Christmas is above all a spiritual occasion, when we should reflect on things that are greater than us. It should be a time when we nourish our souls. Let us make this the foundation of our celebration.
“But Christmas is also the time when we put aside the cares and worries of everyday to enjoy with our family and friends. May our celebrations strengthen the bonds of family, friendship and community and bring us happiness through peace and harmony.
“We take the occasion to thank all those who have given us their understanding and support in our work during the year.
“Merry Christmas.”
Roger Mancienne
LDS chairman