his Christmas tree is a flame of shining joy set against the darkness of the night. It was been lit with great strength to awaken that desire of Light that unites us all.

hese days, darkness may seem to be all around us, but it only feeds on our fears, in order to appear final and beyond our power to stop it. The bright colour plays of the Tree are meant to remind us that joy dissipates hardship and that to chase away darkness it is not necessary to have thousands of light bulbs. A Light lit in a honest heart is enough to light up many others and make possible to shine all together.

oung or old, strong or weak, rich or poor, no matter what we are, each one of us can be a great guide-light. All that is needed is to discover one's own inner Light, which, although individual and unique in its colour and tone, once lit is bright and powerful as the one of the greatest Teachers of the world. Let's preserve the image of this joyful tree, never giving up, for our families, the entire community and ourselves.

et's keep trusting that the next year shall be even more shining than the ending one, since it is the strength of our belief that creates and shapes our life. Pietro Cucchi.