As we begin the year 2020, Pope Francis calls us to adoration to help make Jesus Christ more central in our own personal, social, and faith life. I invite you to reflect on the homily he delivered for the feast of the Epiphany. † Christian Lépine, Archbishop of Montreal

Saint-Léonard (de Port-Maurice) Church was officially erected on Sunday, Dec. 22, 1889. Three days later, the church was consecrated during the Christmas Mass, and 130 years later, Archbishop Lépine came to celebrate an anniversary Mass.

“The church is called to go outside of itself and go to the peripheries, not just geographic, but also the existential peripheries,” said Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio in March 2013. He did not wait until he was elected pope to make the “peripheries” central to his message, a central focus of our attention.

Auxiliary Bishop Alain Faubert, V.G., of Montreal, welcomed those gathered Dec. 14 at the diocesan offices for a day of reflection and fellowship: “In the name of the Lord, thank you for your presence. In the name of children and vulnerable people, thank you.”

People living in peaceful countries rejoice as Christmas approaches, but how do Christians living in the Middle East feel at this time of the year? Carl Hétu, director of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association known as CNEWA, explains.