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Parishes in the Albany Diocese maintain many traditions during Advent and the Christmas season. Here's what's happening in Tribes Hill, Morris and Hagaman, for example:

• Faith formation students from Sacred Heart parish in Tribes Hill will act out scenes from the first Christmas during a pageant at the Christmas Eve vigil Mass. The students will also sing in a children's choir at the Mass.

• In the weeks leading up to Christmas, members of Holy Cross parish in Morris shopped for gifts for needy children from its public school district. The annual "giving tree" held 40 tags with ages and clothing sizes.

Last Sunday, parish children decorated the Jesse tree - a tree representing the genealogy of Jesus - with ornaments symbolizing Old Testament events, from creation to the birth of Jesus.

Children will participate in a children's Mass on Christmas Eve and enjoy a birthday cake for Jesus after the Eucharist. After Christmas, children will portray the possible Christian meaning behind the popular song "The 12 Days of Christmas" in a skit. Two turtledoves, for instance, are often believed to represent the Old and New Testaments.

• First- through 10th-grade religious education students at St. Stephen's parish in Hagaman held a holiday food drive to benefit about five parish families. Students in grades seven through nine polished pews and dusted windowsills to prepare for bustling Christmas Masses.

Earlier this week, first- through sixth-graders participated in a prayer service in front of the Advent wreath, sang carols in the sanctuary and made Christmas cards for the local senior center.[[In-content Ad]]

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