Which Christmas Mass will you attend? Here is a little explanation about the different Christmas Masses and their significance!

The Vigil Mass: Joyful Anticipation-This is the first Mass as we make our way out of Advent. The Gospel at this Mass recalls the genealogy of Jesus but does not focus on the actual birth.

Mass During the Night: This is Midnight Mass and sometimes called The Angel's Mass. During this Mass we will hear about the birth of Christ and the light of Christ coming into the darkness. This Mass has the well-known phrase: "For today in a the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord."

Mass at Dawn: This Mass focuses on the shepherds who proclaim the good news of the birth of Christ and the Psalm focuses on the connection between the light of day and the light of the world.

Mass During the Day: This Mass focuses on the Incarnation and how the world will be changed by the glory of God making Himself present to us on Earth.

What are your fondest Christmas memories connected to your faith? For me it was Midnight Mass. No matter how busy the week had been, Midnight Mass brought a beautiful sense of peace to our family and kicked off our celebration of Christmas. Our parish was also home to a retired bishop and if you arrived early enough to Mass, you would catch a quick glimpse of a quiet "Santa Claus" walking in to kneel before the creche, without a word to those gathered, to pray and honor the baby Jesus, and then make his way back out the door. He never acknowledging the presence of another soul in the Church and kept his focus ONLY on the babe in the manger. As a child, this simple visual helped me to understand that amidst all the fun that came with Christmas, Jesus was the #1 priority; even for Santa. It was a powerful message for the kids of our community. As we pass on our faith to our children, it's important to tell the stories of our own childhood and those faith traditions we hold dear in our memories. Even if you can't pass those traditions down, tell the story of how your journey with God has impacted you. This is the greatest way to share our faith; we don't need to be theologians to help our children develop a relationship with Christ, we just need to have our own loving relationship with Him!

Gregor Mendel was an Austrian monk in the 19th century. He studied plants and identified that there were both dominant and recessive traits and that plants could be cross-fertilized to achieve certain traits. He also studied the traits of bees and mice. His work set the course for the scientific understanding of human genetics. While he made large advances in science, he lived his days out as the abbot of his monastery, helping anyone who needed it!

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As you enjoy your Christmas meal, it is interesting to run a little experiment. Our taste receptors are genetically coded. Which family members go for the super sweet desserts and which family members think the salad tastes bitter while other family members do not? What food "likes" and sensitivities do you think you inherited? Want to better understand the picky eaters at the table? Here is an interesting experiment on the genetics of taste from PBS.

Click on the link below to receive the directions and the prayer.

As we prepare to begin a new year, are there any unresolved family conflicts or strained relationships within your circle of friends? Practicing forgiveness and letting go of bitterness is a helpful process to model and practice with your children, because forgiveness is an essential element in a healthy relationship. Here are some ways you can practice this skill with your kids:

1. Make a practice of saying you are sorry when you have lost your temper or patience with another family member; know that little eyes are always watching!

2. Teach kids to understand that there is a healthy balance between being mistreated and practicing compassion. Perhaps they are struggling with inappropriate behavior from a peer. Is it possible that their peer is also struggling in some way? Can you help them walk in that child's shoes?

3. Help your child to build important boundaries for themselves. Was the offense on purpose? Was it small and out of character? Has his or her friend apologized? Then, teach them to let it go! However if the offenses are the opposite of this, help your child to seek out healthier relationships.

4. Promote healthy communication, especially between family members. This includes teaching listening skills, practicing patience and learning to express emotions in a healthy way.

With an extended Christmas vacation this year, there might be some extra time to engage your kids in the process of preparing for Christmas! Want some recipes ideas they will enjoy making and eating? Click on the link below!

This year, our universal church celebrates a Jubilee Year, which only happens every 25 years. The theme of the worldwide Jubilee is Pilgrims of Hope. We will celebrate the beginning of the Jubilee in our diocese of Sunday, December 29 with a special Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, at 11:15 AM. All are invited!

A Jubilee Year is a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, one another, and all of Creation!

Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester

Editor: Leslie Barkin leslie.barkin@dor.org

Email: oec@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Location: Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 585-328-3210

See them all here!