This is our last issue of 2007. We skip the last issue in December each year. Our next issue will be dated Jan. 6, and it will sum up the biggest stories of the past year.

This issue also focuses on vocations — and that’s appropriate for a Christmas issue. We are accustomed to hearing that the greatest Christmas gift of all is that God gave his only Son to be our savior. That’s true, and it follows that the greatest gift we can give back to God is to offer our own lives (or a son’s or daughter’s) to his service.

This Christmas, we at the Register have much to be grateful for. Even as we prepare this issue to go to press, the mail has come in and I have heard our chief operating officer, Brendan McCaffery, exclaiming at the generosity of readers who have donated to our annual fund drive. We know that Register readers are very active in many apostolic projects in the Church, and we greatly appreciate your sacrifice in also helping us.

Our prayer this Christmas will be for you to experience the joy and peace of Christ personally. And remember us in your prayers, too.

Thank you for all you do for the Church. Merry Christmas and God bless!