Merry Christmas everyone:
the last two weeks announcements were made at the end of Masses informing the parishoners that the activities of Christmas eve would begin with hymn practice at 11 pm, followed by a drama of the birth of Christ by the youth group, and then the first ever (at least according to local testimony) midnight Mass. when i arrived at about 10:50 pm, i found a full church. jammed. packed. sro. so we began and sang, the youth group did an exceptional job, and we actually started midnight Mass at 11:45. after Mass, as promised, we all shared hot chocolate that had been cooking over a wood fire outside of church. when the festivities ended about 1:30 or so, i flopped into bed, ready to sleep in and enjoy a calm, peaceful, quiet, Christmas day. when i woke up, people were here for work and the normal thursday market was in full swing. i sent them all home, telling them to take the day off....here's a shot of the altar:
the last two weeks announcements were made at the end of Masses informing the parishoners that the activities of Christmas eve would begin with hymn practice at 11 pm, followed by a drama of the birth of Christ by the youth group, and then the first ever (at least according to local testimony) midnight Mass. when i arrived at about 10:50 pm, i found a full church. jammed. packed. sro. so we began and sang, the youth group did an exceptional job, and we actually started midnight Mass at 11:45. after Mass, as promised, we all shared hot chocolate that had been cooking over a wood fire outside of church. when the festivities ended about 1:30 or so, i flopped into bed, ready to sleep in and enjoy a calm, peaceful, quiet, Christmas day. when i woke up, people were here for work and the normal thursday market was in full swing. i sent them all home, telling them to take the day off....here's a shot of the altar:
