Christmas Eve Mass

Participated in one of the BEST Holy Masses ever! It was really soo great!

Went with Mum & Dad (feels kinda weird without Sim).. We reached a little before Mass actually began - which means usually there wouldn’t have been place to sit (ppl go well in advance for High Masses here). Anyway, we were still blessed enough to get almost front row seats (fifth from the front) on the extreme right aisle.

The Choir directed by Francis was better than ever and this year saw a whole heap of chidren join the adults & really they were spectacular.. The last & final hymn was so good that the entire congregation spontaneously clapped for the choir!!

The Mass itself was fabulous. Was literally in tears, could feel the love of the Lord for me. Jesus showed me in so many wonderful ways how He was very much present with me. Two of those ways were by:

(01) By ensuring we were on time for Mass despite important last minute work phone calls.

(02) By giving us a lovely star. I always do a huge star up & hang it up. This year I just had NO time whatsoever to make one. So though I did decorate the house, there was no star outside. And then as I’m off to Mass, what do I see? The local area had been all decorated, with fairy lights in every street & a STAR at the gate of each home.

Thank you Lord Jesus.

After the Mass we went to Marise’s for an open house party along with U. Denzil from next door. The way our Lord Jesus allowed us to reach out to him is a testimony in itself…

The nutshell version: He’s a widower, from out of town. His two girls were out partying. He comes to Mass & hears the priest say “Stay, fellowship, wish each other”. He whispers a small prayer to the Lord & leaves after Mass.

We ALWAYS hang around after Mass, for the Coffee & Cake & for the fellowship. In fact I’m with those who leave the Church last of all! But this time we rushed off (having to go to Marise’s) and happened to bump into U. Denzil on the road. A few minutes either way & we would have missed him.

After chatting along the way home (no parking, so we all walk to Church) we reach his place (before ours) and Mum on an inspiration asked him what he was doing that night and would he like to join us. He seemed trifle unsure of how serious mum was, until Dad & I too strongly urged him to come along. He agreed.

Before that though we all went home to our place, a quick stop to put baby Jesus into the Crib and say a short prayer. We prayed for the entire family & his family too.

Then at Marise’s we all enjoyed ourselves, eating, drinking & generally making merry dancing the night away.

When we dropped him home, he asked us if we’d stop a moment. He almost had tears in his eyes: “When we were at Mass,” he told us “Fr. asked us to wish one another… I just made this prayer to the Lord”…

The prayer? “Lord, I don’t know a single person here to wish… I surrender all to you…”

And from where to where he went! I truly believe the Lord loves the widows, widowers, orphans, destitutes, the underdogs.

He takes care of His own. They are truly closest to His heart.

I had a blessed Christmas indeed.