As the very special time of Christmas is upon us, I would like to extend to everyone, and to your families and friends, my very best wishes and warmest greetings for this Christmastime.
It is a time of great joy, a time of great hope for our world, and a time to embrace family and community.
As we reflect on the enormous contribution Order members, St John volunteers, and staff have made to help those in need during this past year, I offer my sincere thanks to all of you for your tireless and selfless dedication to the Order, its work, and those who we serve.
The world in which we live has many challenges: war, poverty, poor health, inequality, changing climate, and so on. But each of you face these challenges and performs amazing and devoted work to make our world, community by community, a better place in which to live. That is one of the noblest things one can do. I also pay tribute to your loved ones who offer support, love, and encouragement for you and your work for St John.
It is also a time to renew, refresh, and rededicate ourselves to the upcoming year, which will be filled with challenges as well as our efforts to meet those challenges and care for our lords, the sick, and the less fortunate. We are all members of the Order of St John, a wonderful international humanitarian organisation that is strengthened globally by the work done locally in the Order’s name in accordance with our values and our two great mottos: For the Faith and In the Service of Humanity.
May the peace and goodwill of Christmas be with you all.
Professor Mark Compton AM GCStJ
Lord Prior
