His Lordship Bishop Camillo Ballin's address to the
Members of the Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA)

Kuwait City, August 3, 2006

"Your mission is a huge challenge; It calls for
unselfish and sincere commitment and collaboration,"
says H.L. Bishop Camillo Ballin, MCCI

Dear Members of the Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA),

I am happy to address you for the first time since my consecration as Bishop. I extend to everyone here, my best greetings in the Lord Jesus and I ask you to convey my greetings to your families, too.

The goal of your Association: to ensure primary education for poor school children, is a very important mission, which may indeed be a tremendous challenge to you. I congratulate all your efforts in this area. Jesus Christ says: “In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” (Mt 25,40). Moreover, Jesus also says the other way around: “In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me” (Mt 25,45).

Your task is really huge: either you are committed to your responsibilities, really the purpose of your Association, and in doing so, you serve the Lord Jesus. On the other hand, not achieving your goal, through a lack of purpose, means neglecting Jesus Christ himself! In carrying out this worthy task, you need, of course, the collaboration of many people, but, especially the unselfish and sincere collaboration of every member of the Committee. My prayer is that you may able to continue and fulfill your mission in peace and in perfect understanding and harmony with all your brothers and sisters.

I thank you for your communion with me, your Bishop, and I invite you to always remain in contact with me, to share with me what you are doing, the problems that you encounter and how far you are able to realize your goal. Your steadfast relations with your Bishop will ensure cooperation among the members of the Committee and full participation from all the members of the Association. Communion at all levels is what our Church in Kuwait urgently needs at this time.

May God, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, bless you and your families and give you His Peace!

Bishop Camillo Ballin, MCCI
Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait