Archbishop Timothy Costelloe tells Christmas mass Jesus taught ‘simplicity and humility’

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe called for a “revolution of tenderness” as he urged thousands of parishioners at Christmas Mass to think of those worshipping from bombed-out churches in war zones.

St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth was overflowing as the sounds of the Cathedral’s organ and choir, as well as the smell of incense, filled the vast church.

The Archbishop said many Christians were worshipping from far humbler buildings, with some gathering for Christmas in places “destroyed by the horrors of war”.

“Many of our sisters and brothers are gathering today in places like Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, Myanmar and so many other places claimed by war and violence,” he said.

“In the peace and beauty of this celebration, I think it is important that we unite ourselves in prayer with those people, who like Mary and Joseph at the first Christmas, were living under oppression, discrimination and threats of violence.”

The Archbishop said all Catholics were united in their belief of Jesus Christ.

He said Jesus taught the “way of simplicity and humility”.

“My prayer for every single one of us today is that as we contemplate the child Jesus, born in a humble stable, we too might experience a revolution of tenderness in our own hearts,” Archbishop Costelloe said.

“A revolution which can then spill out of us into the lives of others around us, especially those who are nearest to us.”

The Archbishop said the massive turnout at services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was a “great sign of hope”.

“We seem to be facing so many difficulties in terms of lack of harmony, intolerance, violence... in that sort of situation it would be easily to lose hope,” he said.

“(But) there are two things the Christmas message promises us — one’s peace and the other one is hope.

“They touch the heart of most of us.”

Among those at the service was one-year-old Julienne, who was attending her first Christmas mass. She was joined by her parents, Jorimel and Farrah Panopio, who described their daughter as a “miracle” after 13 years of trying.

“This is our wonderful tradition, we go to church on Sundays, but Christmas is especially important,” Mr Panopio said.

The Nazzari family — including grandmother Velma, parents Winton and Monica and siblings Natalie and Daniel — came to Perth from Tambellup in the Great Southern for Christmas.

Velma said the service “reflects Christmas in every way”.

“The Cathedral is a very attractive centre and it’s decorated in the traditional way and we enjoy that,” she said.

Greg and Kate Sheen were visiting Perth from Malaysia with their son Dion, 8.

Mr Sheen said the Cathedral was much more “elaborate and decorated” than those in Kuala Lumuar, but the service was “much the same”.

“We keep the faith and take the opportunity when we travel to see some nice churches around the world,” he said.