Caritas Official in Sierra Leone Cautions against Irresponsible Spending during Christmas

He said that the month of December, often seen as a season of joy, celebration, and festivity, is for some a period of great difficulty. 

“There are homes where even daily bread is uncertain, where parents struggle to put food on the table, and where the simple prayer 'Give us this day our daily bread' becomes a cry from the heart,” the Catholic Priests who is widely famed for humanitarian work in Sierra Leone said.

Calling for modesty in the “physical” celebration of Christmas, Fr. Konteh said, “We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, who came into the world in humility, born not in abundance, but in a stable.”

He said that Jesus Christ came poor, vulnerable, and dependent, as a reminder that God’s greatest gift is not wealth, but love.

Fr. Konteh said that the key message of Christmas is for those who have abundance to share with those who have little. 

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Those who have little, on the other hand, should not compare themselves with others, “or feel compelled to please the eyes of the world,” he said, and explained, “Be content with what you have. God sees your heart, knows your intentions, and understands your joy in simply thanking Him for sending His Son for our salvation.”

The multi-award-winning Sierra Leonean Priest described “true celebration of Christmas” as: a grateful heart, a generous spirit, and a humble soul, adding, “Christ did not come to be celebrated with excess, but to be welcomed with love.”

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.