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Your Defence Forces Newsletter Christmas Message from the Head Chaplain 2014 O n behalf of the Defence Forces Chaplaincy Service I am delight- ed Connect has again afforded me the opportunity to send Christmas greetings to you, the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann and your families. Having commemorated the centennial anniversary of the commencement of World War 1, were men and women gave their lives in the 'war to end all wars'; we prepare now to celebrate the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace. Even during this wonderful season as we sing of the angels who announced the coming of Our Saviour, human suffering is still a powerful reality in the lives of too many and peace is but a dream. At a time when the world is preoccupied in all types of con- flicts and threatened by natural and human crises we need the Christmas story more than ever to remind us there is hope and in this hope there is peace and love. Christ did not come to give us a day of celebration, but to fill our hearts with happiness and joy. As we welcome the Infant Jesus of Bethlehem let us do everything we can to make Christmas the occasion it should be. Let us put Jesus at the heart of our Christmas celebrations and not allow the secular pressures of the time to highjack the real significance of what we are about. May we find time to stand for an instant, before the Crib and contemplate the immensity of the mystery of love that is being unfolded before us. Very many of our personnel will be separated from families and loved ones this Christmas, which is difficult for those de- ployed and those at home. Wherever our soldiers are, on behalf of the Chaplaincy Service I express warmest wishes and the blessings of Christmas. I acknowledge the outstanding contribution and extraordi- nary service of our soldiers, sailors and aircrew and thank you for the support you provide for the chaplains. We are humbled by your selfless dedication to duty and the sacrifices you make. At this time, when we celebrate the coming among us of the Child of Bethlehem, our thoughts and prayers turn to those who have lost a loved one during the year. We ask that God will comfort those who mourn. They will forever be in our prayers. Finally, may our celebrations this Christmas be marked by a genuine effort to be open to others and may we all endeavour to be reconciled with God and with our neighbour so that the coming among us of the Son of God may usher in an era of peace and harmony among all people. Gúim Beannachtaí na Féile ar gach ball dena Forsaí Cosanta agus dá mhuintir uilig. Rt. Rev. Mgr. Eoin Thynne Head Chaplain to the Defence Forces 57 International Military Pilgrimage 14 May - 19 May 2015 737 Contact: Sgt Liam Bellew 2638 Of�ice of the Head Chaplain experiences of the last 12 months and strive to continu- ously improve in the coming year. Our reputation as a professional, agile, sustainable Defence Forces is built on our performances and on the good work carried out by each and every individual soldier. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to maintain Óglaigh na hEireann's reputation and to adhere to our six core values of; Respect, Loyalty, Self- nessness, Physical Courage, Moral Courage and Integrity. Our ethos is based on these values and the citizens of Ireland rightly expect us to act in a manner that is above reproach. During this period of reflection I urge you to consider all aspects of your personal and professional behaviour, on and off duty. When we each took the Oath of Allegiance we agreed to hold ourselves to the highest standards of behaviour and it is our responsibility to al- ways endeavour to reach and maintain those standards. This time of year is also a time for remembering those who have gone before us. Our thoughts are with our col- leagues and former colleagues who died during the past year. Their families and friends feel their loss most deeply at Christmas. Go ndéana Dia trocaire orthu. Christmas is a time of celebration, joy and unity and I am aware that many members will be away from their families over Christmas; either on overseas deploy- ments or operational duties on island and at sea. We currently have troops serving in 14 different missions worldwide, sailors patrolling the Irish waters and the crews of our aircraft providing crucial air support over the Christmas period. Long periods of forced separa- tion are part of the unique demands of service in the Defence Forces. I extend my gratitude to you for your commitment and dedication. I look back on 2014 with a great sense of pride for the many achievements, in the midst of diverse challenges for our organisation and I look forward to working with you in the coming year to ensure that the Defence Forces' contribution to Irish society remains strong. I extend my warmest wishes to the entire Defence Forces and to your families and wish you all a merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. Nollaig shona agus athbhliain faoi mhaise agaibh go leir.

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