CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2006
“BUILD BETHLEHEM EVERYWHERE”

Dear Friends, 

A word about the title of my Christmas message –Bethlehem is the birthplace of the Christian faith, the cradle of Christianity.  Bethlehem is the foundation on which all Christian faiths are built.  Bethlehem symbolizes Jesus’ presence among us all over the world. 

Bethlehem reminds us of how we all come to God.  Some of us come like Joseph, confused about our faith and unsuspecting that God is among us.  We come like the shepherds, without power, weak and even despised.  We come like the wise men, with a faulty sense of faith, expecting a God of preconceived stature and power.  We come like Herod, fearing that in recognizing God, we lose recognition of ourselves.
The surprise of Bethlehem is that God welcomes our weakness in the Infant whose birth we celebrate.

During this wondrous season of light and life, may we each continue our journey in the joyful hope that our lives have made and continue to make a difference.  As the child Jesus grew in wisdom, age and grace in this Holy Land,  I am daily convinced that our administrators, faculty and staff at Bethlehem University make a difference in the lives in which we are blessed to share, the young men and women who are our students.   In the faces of our students I also daily see wit and growing wisdom, courage and faith, sadness at the circumstances in which they live in Palestine through no fault of their own.  With all our hearts we yearn for the day when peace will come to this holy land.

I thank all of you who read these words for your faith and confidence in the mission of Bethlehem University and for the encouragement and generosity you show in countless ways.  Your continued support is critical to the University’s future.

May God continue to work his will in our lives.  Let us continue to pray for one another and make every effort to “BUILD BETHLEHEM EVERYWHERE”. 

With my own personal wish for Christmas joy and peace to you,

Brother Daniel Casey, FSC
Vice Chancellor