Pope Francis on Sunday hailed Nativity scenes as “simple and admirable” signs of Christian faith and encouraged their placement in workplaces, schools and town squares, as he bolstered a Christmas tradition that has at times triggered bitter legal battles in the United States. “I wish to encourage the beautiful family tradition of preparing the Nativity Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’
Salvation Army highlighting Christmas housing crisis
Monday, November 25th, 2019
The Salvation launched its Christmas appeal, Monday, with a prediction that the need for transitional housing will increase by 35 per cent. The Salvation Army says comparing Christmas 2018 with Christmas 2019, it expects an extra 600 people to be in its housing this Christmas. 1187 people were in its centres on Christmas Eve in Read more
The gentle touch
Thursday, November 14th, 2019
There is a story about Mary, that she was stitching a cloth for the tabernacle when Gabriel visited her. Maybe. Maybe not. She could have been sweeping the floor. Or grinding corn for a meal. Those activities can also be sacred. We are reminded of times when God has been manifest in simple household tasks. Read more
Christmas Remembered
Monday, April 1st, 2019
In a writing class, people were recording childhood memories of a festive family occasion. Many writers chose Christmas. A Jewish woman described her father keeping the rabbi talking at the door, while mother and children pushed the Christmas tree out of the living room and into the garage. Another story came from a man who Read more
Turn Christmas Catholics into regular Massgoers
Thursday, December 13th, 2018
No one wants to be the innkeeper in a Christmas pageant. You know the one, the door-slamming landlord who turned away Joseph and Mary before they became the Holy Family. Any other role is better that that one. Even wearing the scratchy sheep costume is better or being the rope pull on the flying angel—anything Read more
‘Silent Night’ turns 200
Thursday, December 13th, 2018
The hills around Salzburg are alive, we hear, “alive with the sound of music.” Young and old, the people sing and hum and strum. The water in the brooks laughs as it trips and falls downstream. Church chimes sigh with the breeze. This music, we also hear, has been sung for 1,000 years. Maybe. But Read more
I just divorced and was dreading Christmas
Thursday, December 13th, 2018
As a cradle Catholic, I never thought I’d get a divorce, but I ended up with one earlier this year. Since we came to the decision, I’ve been dreading Christmas — the decorations, the Santa visits, the holiday cards. Christmas seemed all about perfect families and frameable moments, and this year I didn’t want any Read more
Making Christmas activities at school “biblical” out of line
Monday, December 10th, 2018
Katherine Hogg has no problem with Christmas activities in general at school, but she says making them biblical is “out of line . . . for a secular school.” Hogg kept her 7-year-old son home from school last week to avoid lessons about the Christian origins of Christmas. She said she was unhappy her son’s Read more
7 facts you may not known about Advent
Thursday, December 6th, 201825th of December has become a holiday loved by both Christian and as well as those who are not Christians. Advent, the time of preparation is, however, a much lesser-known aspect of this season. We all know of Lent, but what is Advent? What is its history? Here are seven facts you might have known Read more
68 children will spend Christmas at de Paul House for homeless
Thursday, December 6th, 2018
In total, 68 children including one newborn baby will spend Christmas at Birkenhead’s de Paul House, a housing and support service for homeless families. Manager Jan Rutledge said the number of families they will be providing for at Christmas this year is the most it ever has experienced. De Paul House was established in the early Read more