Merry Christmas!

Happy Christmas from Down Under, where we celebrate a day earlier than you! I just got off the phone with my siblings on the East Coast where it was just before midnight Christmas Eve. Here, we are closing in on 4 pm Christmas Day!

On Saturday (23 December) members of our youth group (Helen, with her brother Henry) threw a party at their home. Here is a shot of myself (I'm in the middle with Henry, left) and the other youth, the youth leaders and Helen and Henry's family (1). It was a nice get together, but so much eating! The mom of the family loves to decorate for Christmas. Here is the outside of their house! As I was pulling away, there others drove by just to take pictures of the light show (2)!

I saw the new Star Wars movie earlier this week and found a special Christmas tree that was cleverly decorated for the show (3). We are going as a parish to see the movie again this Friday! I sold so many tickets that we had to rent the next bigger size theatre! 145 tickets in total! Woo Hoo!

Here are some shots of our church decorated for Christmas (4-9). I was disappointed with the poinsettias this year. Out temperatures got in the 100's early and nurseries took a hit all over Australia, according to my supplier. The plants all looked thirsty to me, though we had watered them well. I placed our near life-size nativity in front of the altar, in the center of the worship space (4). Two, eight foot trees flank the Tabernacle (5). Here's a shot from one side of the church to give you an idea of the layout with the decorations (6). A statue of Our Lady of Perpetual Help gets lots of poinsettias (7). And here are shots of myself after the vigil Mass with the baby Jesus (8) and a selfie with the Christmas koala (9).

I discovered the koala at a garden shop last year or the year before and visitors get a kick out of discovering him in the creche. They don't really notice him right away, though he's front and center!

Our Ave Maria Choir sang beautifully (pictured with myself and Fr. Gerard, my associate, 10). This group of Filipino's are a real blessing. They treat me like family and will do just about anything. Such sweet and beautiful parishioners!

These next couple are of the parrots that greeted me 6.30 am Christmas morn (11-12): called Gallahs. The temperatures on Christmas Eve Day reached 100! And the church was so very warm and humid without AC and packed with too many people! Thanks be to God that a cold front moved through around 3 pm and temperatures dropped to around 85 by 6 pm Christmas Eve, and then about 72 by Midnight Mass. I woke up to a chilly 65! God is good!

Here are shots of our Christmas luncheon (13-19): shots of the table with its center piece (13-14); our community (from left to right): Fr. Gerard, a student friar from Melbourne Br. Bernard, Br. Dominic, Br. Jerry and myself (15); Pina, a parishioner, made us a lovely turkey meal (16-17); our tree (which has twinkling blue lights) (18-19).

Finally some photos of my Christmas drawing this year and details of roos and parrots (20-22). Wishing you and yours the very best!