Bishop of Plymouth Christmas Message: 'Make Your Home in Me'

Bishop Nicholas Hudson. Image: Mazur/www.catholicnews.org.uk

In his first Christmas message as Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Reverend Nicholas Hudson reflects on the wonder of the Nativity and invites Catholics across Devon, Dorset and Cornwall to embrace Christ's call to "make your home in me as I make mine in you."

Bishop Nicholas speaks movingly of the annual return to the manger scene: "Whatever age you are, it's always deeply moving, isn't it, to see the Christ-child back in the manger on Christmas night. 'Make your home in me as I make mine in you' are the words - His words - which always spring to mind. 'He's home!' I tell myself."

The bishop emphasises the distinctive nature of Christian belief: "On Christmas night we celebrate a God who comes looking for us. It's not something we should take for granted; for many religious people don't see God in this way. But we believe our God came to dwell with us two thousand and twenty-five years ago - and that He comes still!"

Reflecting on his first month in the diocese, Bishop Nicholas shares one of the highlights, the recent dedication of a new church in Gillingham, Dorset, as a symbol of God's continuing presence. "Everything about that Rite announced what is at the heart of Christmas, our belief that He is with us - Emmanuel, 'God-with-us'," he said.

As the Church steps from the Jubilee of Hope into preparation for the Great Jubilee of 2033, Bishop Nicholas calls for renewed prayer across the diocese. Expressing his gratitude for the warm welcome he has received, he says: "The clergy and laity of Plymouth Diocese, across Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, have made me feel so very welcome since I came to you just a month ago. You really are a welcoming community."

The bishop then presents a challenge to the diocese: "The challenge which presents itself to us - it always will - is to help so many others feel at home with us too, to help so many more to find their home in Him." He also offers a practical pathway forward in response to this challenge: "the place to begin is surely by making ourselves feel more at home in Him. Take the Christchild to our hearts these days of Christmas with a deeper commitment to prayer and we will be surprised how our relationship with Him speaks to those with whom we share our lives."

His message concludes with a blessing to all: "I wish you a happy and holy celebration of Christmas 2025; and a truly blessed 2026. God bless you."

Full Christmas Message - Bishop Nicholas Hudson

Whatever age you are, it's always deeply moving, isn't it, to see the Christ-child back in the manger on Christmas night. "Make your home in me as I make mine in you" are the words - His words - which always spring to mind. "He's home!" I tell myself.

On Christmas night we celebrate a God who comes looking for us. It's not something we should take for granted; for many religious people don't see God in this way. But we believe our God came to dwell with us two thousand and twenty-five years ago - and that He comes still! He comes to make His home in each of us every day of our lives - but in a special way each Christmas night.

A highlight of my first weeks as Bishop of this Diocese was when we dedicated a new church to Him - at Gillingham in Dorset. Everything about that Rite announced what is at the heart of Christmas, our belief that He is with us - Emmanuel, "God-with-us". Travelling there from diverse parts of the Diocese to join with the people of Gillingham in consecrating their new church to Him, we were announcing our belief, nay, conviction, that God has made His home with us - in Gillingham as in every church and chapel across the Diocese.

Now it is for the people of Gillingham to use that church really to make their home in Him - as it is for every parish and community across the Diocese. I use the phrase make their home in Him deliberately - because He used it: "Make your home in me as I make mine in you," he said. In using it, He was inviting us to make ourselves at home with Him in prayer, in Scripture, in worship, in sharing our Faith, but most especially through our adoration of Him present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

As we step out from this Jubilee of Hope into preparation for the Great Jubilee of 2033, let us redouble the prayer we offer in our churches for all who belong to the family of Plymouth Diocese. The clergy and laity of Plymouth Diocese, across Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, have made me feel so very welcome since I came to you just a month ago. You really are a welcoming community and encourage me daily to make my home in you - as I pledged I would in that beautiful liturgy of Installation and welcome with which we began Advent.

The challenge which presents itself to us - it always will - is to help so many others feel at home with us too, to help so many more to find their home in Him. The place to begin is surely by making ourselves feel more at home in Him ourselves. Take the Christchild to our hearts these days of Christmas with a deeper commitment to prayer and we will be surprised how our relationship with Him speaks to those with whom we share our lives. St Peter puts it better than anyone when he tells us simply: "set yourselves close to Him - that you too might be living stones making up the Body of Christ." Set yourself close to Him: make your home in Him as He makes His in you and you will have His Life within you and feel the call to share that Life with others.

I wish you a happy and holy celebration of Christmas 2025; and a truly blessed 2026.

God bless you

+Nicholas