Parishes prepare for Christmas in variety of ways

'Tis the season to be...busy. And, this year, Advent programs and presentations have been keeping parishioners very busy throughout the Albany Diocese:

ON THE FIRST DAY...

On the first Sunday of Advent, St. Margaret of Cortona parish in Rotterdam Junction enjoyed a visit from St. Nicholas as part of their Generations of Faith catechesis.

Kay Skelly, pastoral associate for faith formation, said, "We had a wonderful time."

St. Nicholas' green rubber boots were set up in the church to hold donations from generous parishioners. The money collected is used for a needy family or individual. Tables in the parish hall were decorated with wooden shoes filled with cloven oranges, straw and even a carrot for St. Nicholas' horse.

St. Nicholas (played by John Sheehy) told stories about the saint's great generosity and encouraged parishioners to be generous with others.

At a subsequent gathering, parishioners talked about the traditions that have evolved in different countries and from varying ethnic backgrounds to form the legend of the great saint who is associated with the gift of giving.

ON THE SECOND...

On the second Sunday of Advent, parishioners of St. Joseph's Church in Worcester met to hear faith formation students present the annual Christmas cantata, titled "Comfort and Joy" this year.

According to Terry Hait, music director for St. Joseph's, St. Anna's parish in Summit and St. Mary's mission church in Schenevus, students in first through eighth grades have performed the Christmas cantata for the past four years.

"This year, our children's choir performed a prelude," she said, noting that six children performed "Arise, Shine, Jesus Has Come," "The Cradle Hymn" and "The Friendly Beasts."

The cantata followed, narrated by Jeanette Castro and Lynn Hait. It was interspersed with dialogue and nine songs performed by the adult choir. Minnie Cerra, retired organist from St. Joseph's, and Jimmy Tauzel, a high school senior studying music and a parishioner of St. Joseph's, accompanied them. Colleen Rockwell directed the children's choir.

"Minnie has played for every one of our cantatas, and she is absolutely wonderful," noted the director, who added that "about 100 people from all three parishes attended, joining the choir in singing familiar songs and carols. It set the stage for that special feeling of Christmas and holiday spirit."

ON THE FOURTH...

On the final Sunday of Advent at St. George's in Pittstown, elementary students in the faith formation program walked into church for 11 a.m. Mass, wearing white dresses and pants, and, in some cases, their dad's shirts. They were angels and shepherds for the annual Nativity pageant.

According to Marcy Smith, parish secretary and coordinator of the faith formation program, the event "is a tradition. Everyone looks forward with a great sense of joy to the pageant."

As far as she knows, it has been held for at least 12 years. Fran Breen, who has been at St. George's for 56 years, noted that parishioners eagerly anticipate the pageant every year.

"It is one of the main events here, and everyone gets involved," she said. "It's quite a production."

HELPING THE NEEDY

At St. Luke's Church in Schenectady, parishioners turned to the needy during their celebration of Advent.

Angela Marczewski, pastoral associate for outreach, takes requests for the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society, whose members pack food baskets to feed the hungry a complete holiday meal -- with extra items to sustain a family for several additional days.

"These volunteers have been doing this for about 25 years. The neighborhood has changed, and they have seen the need to increase the number of baskets they prepare," Mrs. Marczewski told The Evangelist. "This year, they prepared nearly 150 baskets."

Mrs. Marczewski said that the group, which is widely known for helping the poor and needy, "is conscious that they need young people to continue this ministry. So far, that is working out nicely. All the volunteers give a tremendous amount of time and energy to this ministry."

ADVENT LIGHT

This year, Rev. David E. Noone, pastor of St. Francis de Sales parish in Loudonville, initiated a new Advent service, "Service of Light in the Midst of Darkness."

"For some people, the holidays are not an 'upbeat' or joyful time," he explained. "Many are experiencing loss from the death of a loved one, a divorce or a debilitating illness. Some are alone and depressed, without family near."

He learned about the service, which other parishes have held around the country, and "thought that we might try it at St. Francis. There was some concern that such a service might accentuate a person's loneliness. Others felt it would greatly help to ease the loneliness that someone feels at this time of year."

His hope is that it provided "the comfort that God offers during periods of darkness. It's a time of special music, Scripture, silence, reflection, prayer and the lighting of candles. It's a journey from darkness into light."

(12/23/04)