Christmas Eve First Holy Communions and the Joy of Christmas

Outdoor Nativity so that the center of the town would see--thanks to your all's generous donations I was able to purchase this and the lights. Thank you!

Nativity set up by the Sisters in our chapel. You can see that their work is slightly more artistically developed than mine...

A larger view of the nativity in the chapel.

Dear Friends and Family,

I sit down to write this with a heart overflowing with joy an gratitude (and a head operating on two hours of sleep). It has been a very blessed and beautiful past 36 hours. For those of you gathered at my parents' home in Bay Village, those of you in Texas, others in Canada, Italy, and other parts of the world: you all were very much in my heart as I celebrated the three Masses of Christmas. Thank you for the gift of your friendship, for so many prayers and ways you have helped me to grow closer to the Lord, and for the many beautiful memories you have left in my heart. I was praying for you since last night, asking Jesus and Mary to grant you the peace and joy that only they can give.

The joys of this Christmas began for me on Sunday morning with the First Holy Communion of the two children I have spent the past year helping to prepare. It was such a blessing to offer that Mass and give them for the very first time the Most Holy Eucharist. The Sisters made child-sized wooden kneelers for the occasion, which were placed in the sanctuary, along with tiny wooden benches for sitting. The children followed the entire Mass from there, close to the altar and where they could also be seen (and prayed for), by the Sisters. I will share some photos below. Among many blessings of that Mass it struck me how beneficial it is for the congregation itself, and also for the priest and sisters themselves, to assist at such an occasion. At the end of the Mass I knelt between them for some time of quiet thanksgiving and then blessed rosaries for them, took a few silent photos in the chapel, and headed to the reception.

Then it was on to the Christmas Eve (Sunday) Mass in Plymouth, which was a joy as always, with the joy of hearing Confessions and advising people. Then back to Lanherne to help with a liturgical service for the Sisters, and give them a very brief sermon just for them. Then later that night it was praying matins for Christmas day, hearing Confessions, and celebrating the midnight Mass.

The midnight Mass was by candlelight only (with the exception of a few Christmas lights, for example around the nativity). The silence was impressive. You could have heard a pin drop during the quiet parts of the Mass. The Sisters singing was beautiful--with some particularly beautiful harmony for the occasion. The veneration of the Child Jesus at the end of Mass, the celebratory eating of chocolate with the congregation afterward, the presence of visitors who drove in all the way from Plymouth, as well as some visiting down from London, etc. were among the many blessings of that night.

Then this morning I sang the 8AM Mass for the sisters and two young families, then had the blessing and joy of celebrating the Christmas Day Mass in Plymouth, with the veneration of the child Jesus and the signing of some traditional British Christmas Carols. Some of you in the U.S. will have heard (at least on youtube) the carol "Once in David's Royal City" (if not, search on youtube with the Kings College Choir and you'll find a beautiful version). Our organist did a superb job in the Mass and with the carols and I was smiling ear to ear. Then I went to the home of a parishioner who has not been feeling well, to join him and his family for a celebratory Christmas Day meal, and then drove home (loaded with enough gifts of food from the congregation to survive nuclear winter), and am now typing this to you.

Please find below some photos of the First Holy Communion. No photos were taken of the midnight Mass, but it was quite beautiful.

Merry Christmas!
Fr. Pillari