Merry, Merry Christmas to You, Mate!

Merry Christmas!!! Such a busy a week! I am exhausted! But excited too! Full of Christmas spirit!

We began the week with three Advent Communal Penance Services, back to back. Our Deanery (gathering of parishes) decided to do this as most people wait until the last minute to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. So it was decided to just have them all in different parts of the deanery, through the last week before Christmas, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

On Wednesday, we were at St. Bernadette's in Castle Hill (the suburb next to where I live). The parish is probably the most affluent of the Diocese of Parramatta. I about flipped when I saw the "Advent" decorations: a full Christmas Tree with disco lights going and the whole manger, including baby Jesus! (Photo 1 is from their parish website and gives you a good view of how the Sanctuary looked.) I asked Monsignor why all the Christmas stuff was out already. He basically said the following, apologetically, "Well, you know, we're fighting the commercialism of Christmas. The stores have hi-jacked Christmas from us, so everyone wants it all out at the beginning of Advent. What can you do?" "Say no!" is what I thought! (But didn't say it, thankfully!) So I asked, "Well what then do you do at Christmas?" He said, "Just change the purple clothes to gold." Ugh! That's how they celebrate Christmas?

And this is basically the sentiment throughout Australia. It's as if the priests here have given up. Very frustrating. I think it's okay to decorate homes for Christmas from December 1, but churches are in a liturgical season: Advent. Meant to be quiet and waiting.

Here is the other parish that we visited, St. Paul's (2-5) on Thursday. They kept things Adventy! And I really liked the architectural style of the church. It is modern, but tasteful. I thought the stained glass window is beautiful (5). And the Tabernacle is unique (2-4). Here is our church decorated for Advent (6) with our Advent Wreath (7).

It is hot here! And the birds are loving it. This Rainbow Lorikeet species (8-10) inspired a part of my Christmas Card (11) And lest you think all is calm, I almost had a heart attack running into this critter as I raced to Midnight Mass (12)! While not real big, the fact that you can see teh knuckles on his eaight legs makes me freak!

Here is our Church done up for Christmas; the Tabernacle and Sanctuary (13-14); Our Lady of Perpetual Help (15-16); St. Francis (17); the Wreath over teh main doors (18); new Christmas baubles (what Aussies say for our "ornaments") for the doors (19); some of the other statuary around the edges of our worship space (20-21); the Christmas creche with newly restored figures (last year we had chipped and damaged donkey ears, ox horns, broken fingers etc…)(22-26).

Here is the scene during the day (22) and here it is at night (23) with the pretty lights showing. Look carefully at the newest addition to the set, peeking up from the far right corner: the Christmas Koala (24)! Some one asked about a 'roo. I told him, get me one to scale and I'll put it in! (They said they're going to look for one for me!) And here's is a wonderful panorama of the whole Sanctuary space (25). You have to sort of unbend the picture as the front is straight and not curved as distorted by the lens, but you get the picture. And one of Santa me, with the manger (26).

Christmas masses were all packed with the 6 pm Vigil being so very hot (around 85 degrees) with humidity at 70-80%…awful in a church packed with people. Our Church holds about 450 max. I estimate we had 650 people show up. All those people packed and breathing out air made the place stuff. Add to that that my vestments for Christmas are designed for America, where Christmas falls in the winter; they're thick! Throughout the Mass we had thunder rumbling and it eventually rained. People were standing outside becuase there was no room in the church! (Which was perfect for my homily, by the way!) It was awful. UYet wonderful too to have such a crowd. Thankfully we had extra ministers and I was able to have the mass over in an hour! (I think I deserve a medal!) After the rain, it cooled things down, but it still felt hot in church and the humidity stayed high. We had fans blwoing but just couldn't keep it cool. Hopefully by next Christmas we'll have the AC installed. (Please Lord!)

Finally, here are some of my favorite things: Star Wars Christmas fun (27-28).

Okay, I'm going to bed now—Merry Christmas to all of you and yours and a Blessed New Year! May the Prince of Peace reign in hearts, homes, our country and our world!