Hope Was Born That Night
“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6
Dear Friend
Isaiah 9:6 is a prophecy about a future child who would bear the government on his shoulders and be called titles that could only rightfully be attributed to God. At the time, the people of Judah felt powerless against their enemies. They didn’t know if God was for them or against them, or if he had simply abandoned them.
This verse brings comfort, giving many names for the anticipated Messiah. Not only will Jesus bear the responsibility of governing the people (“authority rests on his shoulders”), but Verse 7 tells us he’ll do it forever.
The titles used speak to Jesus’ role as a living God.
- Everlasting Father—The people of the time understood
- Mighty God—A human couldn’t save the people. Only God Himself was powerful enough to deliver us.
- Everlasting Father—The people of the time understood what it meant to be fatherless or orphaned. The Messiah’s arrival was assurance that people would never again feel vulnerable.
- Prince of Peace—Sometimes peace in the world can feel like it’s never going to come, but Jesus is unlike any earthly king or ruler. He brings peace from all the forces of evil.
St. Gianna’s Center for Women’s Health & FertilityCare (St. Petersburg, Florida)
A Mission Society grant helped two bi-lingual students become FertilityCare practioners in Miami, FL and Costa Rica. They teach Spanish-speaking clients from underserved and immigrant communities how to use natural family planning.
“Fertility care can be ‘too much’ to add to a woman’s challenges of job instability, family difficulties and lack of support. My plan is to communicate the truth about fertility, womanhood, chastity and marriage with hope and encouragement.” – Katherine
Some of us can’t possibly understand the challenges that some people face – homelessness, hunger, racism, personal safety, being a single parent, unemployment, and lack of health care. Please prayerfully consider a gift that will bring love and comfort to so many of our brothers and sisters in need.
On behalf of all the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and their partners in ministry, thank you for your supporting God’s work in serving those who are poor in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States. We wish for your family to have a Christmas filled with peace, joy and the wonder of Christ’s birth.
Mission Society support made it possible for our Sisters to help people with medical exams, bus tickets, and especially with the distribution of basic food baskets.
May you find comfort in the hope that was born with Jesus,
Laura Whitford,
President, St. Elizabeth Mission Society
Click HERE for the 2022 Christmas Appeal
To order our 2022 Christmas Nativity cards, click HERE
