Every human person has inherent dignity and worth. That is a Christmas message the Archbishop of Perth wants to send during a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet.
Archbishop Costelloe SDB held his first LifeLink Christmas appeal earlier this month and said he hoped to raise more than $575,000 to provide support for people in need within the community.
“My Christmas message this year focuses and reflects on the dignity of the human person,” he said.
More than 31,000 Western Australian families and individuals struggle during the Christmas season, with financial stresses hampering the intended joyous time of year.
“We live in a society which has many strengths and much to admire but it’s not a society in which the true dignity of people is always recognised, respected and celebrated.”
“Sometimes we are quick to admire the successful and the wealthy but less ready to look a little deeper and recognise the extraordinary courage displayed by so many day-to-day people.”
The LifeLink Christmas appeal is an annual fundraising event to support Catholic Archdiocesan welfare agencies.
“This mystery of “God among us” points to the extraordinary dignity and worth of every human being,” he said.
“This is because it tells us that being human is of such great potential and beauty, that it could become the expression of the fullness of God.”
“This is what happened in Jesus, and it is this we celebrate at Christmas.”
Archbishop Costelloe and the chairman of LifeLink, Bishop Donald Sproxton, hosted this year’s liturgical launch at St Mary’s Cathedral, which was attended by more than 170 parish priests as well as parish appeal representatives and LifeLink agency directors.
The LifeLink Christmas appeal will be officially launched in parishes throughout the state on November 17 and 18.