Parish hands out magi's gifts

Parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Troy will leave this weekend's Masses with party favors.

For several years, the parish has celebrated the feast of the Epiphany by handing out hundreds of "gift bags from the three kings."

The Epiphany marks the visit of the magi (also called the three kings or three wise men) to the Holy Family after Jesus' birth in Bethlehem.

Inside the bags

The gift bags contain:

* pieces of the kings' gifts of "gold" (represented by gold-wrapped hard candy), real frankincense and myrrh;

* chalk, with which parishioners are asked to write over the doors of their homes the year and the initials of the three magi; and

* a scroll explaining the feast of the Epiphany and the above practice, with an accompanying prayer to bless one's home.

Tradition

The tradition of giving out the bags was begun by former pastor Rev. Thomas Konopka, according to parishioners on St. Michael's prayer and worship committee, which has continued the practice.

"I think it's a nice thing. It makes the feast of the Epiphany special," declared Peggy Kropp, who organized about a dozen volunteers to roll up 500 scrolls, tie them with ribbon and stuff the bags.

Their help was crucial, said Mrs. Kropp, since Mass-goers seem to be clamoring for more bags every year. "Last year, some people were upset because we ran out!" she noted.

Resin enough

Mrs. Kropp was also grateful that this year's batch of frankincense and myrrh came in separate boxes.

In past years, she said, the two resins were mixed together, and it was nearly impossible to tell which of the small, fragrant pieces were which.

(Mrs. Kropp is a lifelong parishioner of St. Michael's, as were prior generations of her family. She noted that her grandfather once lost his job for leaving work to attend Mass on St. Patrick's Day. Here is an Epiphany prayer and house blessing: Lord, bless this house, our home. Bless all who enter and leave through this doorway. May we always welcome those who enter as your guest and go forth through the doorway of a new day each time we leave. May your peace dwell here and in our world among all nations. Amen.)

Gifts also packed for military

On the same weekend they made three kings' gift bags, volunteers packed another kind of gift: care packages for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

That offering was even more significant to the Kropps, whose son, Thomas, served with the National Guard in Iraq from 2004-'05. Mrs. Kropp told The Evangelist that many people don't understand how devastating it is for a family to see a National Guard member go off to war, for which the family may be less prepared than a "regular Army" soldier's family.

The holiday packages literally contained everything from soup to nuts, plus toiletries, candy, books and even beef jerky. (KB)

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