FATHER
LIAM SAYS: I was speaking to a parishioner recently who mentioned
that she had visited some friends in Ireland last Christmas and went to Mass on
Christmas Day in Tramore. I was very
interested to hear this as I know Tramore fairly well – it is a seaside resort
in my native county. She went on to say
how surprised she was to find the congregation so up in the air. Many of them did not seem to know what was
really going on and they seemed to be all over the place. I asked what time of day the Mass was and she
told me it was 11.00 am. I pointed out
to her that there would have been several Masses earlier than that. That there would have been a Christmas Vigil
Mass and a Midnight Mass as well as a number of earlier Christmas morning
Masses. Most of the worshippers in that
beautiful Waterford town would have been at one of these Masses. Those who had come to the 11 o’clock Mass on
Christmas Day would have included some who rarely went to Mass as well as
holiday makers – some non-Catholics – and so might have felt a bit
confused. Perhaps the celebrant also was
rather tired and weary after his earlier exertions – as may have been the
organist and the choir! The good lady
seemed satisfied with my explanation and I felt I had somewhat rescued the good
name of my county! The reason why I had
a ready explanation to offer is that the Tramore situation is replicated in
many other places, even, I hear, in the Worthing area! But I can’t vouch for that!
The Christmas season will be more taxing than usual
this year as regards our church celebrations. Thursday 24th is
Christmas Eve when there will be Mass at 6.00 pm aimed mainly at young
families. This will be followed by Mass
at 9.00 pm, preceded by carols. This
takes the place of the traditional Midnight Mass which would be rather
difficult for many of us. On Christmas
morning there are Masses at 8.15 and 10.30 am.
On Saturday evening there will be the Vigil Mass of the Sunday at 6.00
pm and on Sunday morning – the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and
Joseph – there are the usual Masses at 8.15 and 10.30 am. A year from now the situation will be quite
different since 2016 will be a Leap Year. Christmas Eve will be on a Saturday with a
Sunday Christmas Day to follow. What
bliss that will be.
Meanwhile we must try to summon up our resources to
make these days memorable for the right reason and try to avoid the Tramore
scenario. So at the Christmas Masses
especially we should make a great effort to make everybody feel positively
welcome. Some will be visitors, possibly
at a Catholic church service for the first time in their lives. We must try to put them at their ease. The message to the shepherds was to all
people of good will. Perhaps we should explain
things to people who seem a little puzzled.
And if we make a supreme effort to sing out, the joy of the feast will
spread to all around us. Even before we
come to Christmas we might feel able to invite some friends to join us. Catholics who haven’t been for some years –
resting Catholics as they are sometimes called – might appreciate a welcome
word. Such approaches should always be
made in a very humble way. We should
always be mindful that we are a church of sinners who have caused a lot of offence
not only to God but to people within and outside the Church. We begin every Mass by acknowledging our
sinfulness and failures and by asking God for mercy. We are frail vessels but we carry great
treasure. The coming of Christ, the Son of God, into our world took place not
only at Bethlehem but continues to take place in every place and in every
person. Holy Doors are being opened to
celebrate the start of the Holy Year of Mercy.
Are there doors that we can open to others?
