By Rick Winterson

     It’s been a while since Christmas fell on a Sunday, as it did this year.  The last time was 12 Christmases back in Anno Domini 1994.  The odd pattern of the millennial leap year, 2000 A.D., aced us out of a Sunday Christmas six years ago.  But not to worry - the next Sunday Christmas will occur in 2011, just four days less than six years from now. 

     For some reason, it’s extra special when Christmas falls on a Sunday.  Perhaps having Christmas Eve on a Saturday, when most of us don’t have to work, followed by having Monday, the 26th, off, makes it seem like a mini-vacation, or at least a more relaxing weekend.  The office parties are over with.  With luck, the shopping is finished.  There’s time to rest, recover, and perhaps take on extra family and spiritual activities – that’s what Christmas is all about, so we’ve been told.  And there was no shortage of them here in South Boston.

     In St. Augustine Chapel at 4 p.m on Saturday, Christmas Eve, the lector read from Isaiah – “No more shall people call you forsaken” – and then Fr. Kennedy read the familiar Second Chapter from Luke, “…there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus …”.  In his homily, Fr. Kennedy told a modern story of a rich man who could have whatever he wanted, but only wished for peace – a gift he could not purchase for any amount of money.

     Fr. White at St. Vincent bore in the figurine of the Christ Child in a procession of children from the parish and laid it on the side altar, while Christmas carols were sung.  In his sermon, Fr. White asked that the congregation “think backwards” to get to the true meaning of the Christmas observances.

The Fourth Presbyterian held a Christmas Eve worship service.  The Fourth’s children were costumed as people from the time of Christ’s birth, including the figures of Mary and Joseph, as they went from inn to inn seeking shelter.  Many carols and hymns were sung during the worship service.  It closed with a procession illuminated only by candles, which were lit from one to another of the congregants, while Pastor Burns Stanfield read from the Gospel of John.  “And the life was the Light of men, and the Light shineth in the darkness …”

     Midnight Mass was said at St. Brigid Church.  The priests from that parish, led by Fr. Casey, proceeded to the altar.  The first reading was from the Prophet Isaiah, which contains his stirring words, “They name him Wonderful, Counselor, God-Hero, Father Forever, the Prince of Peace.”  Fr. Casey spoke of “the power of love over the love of power”.  The central mystery of Christmas was the coming of the Baby God, who depended on us.

     On Christmas morning, Mass was said in Gate of Heaven Church by the light streaming from the south-facing, tall, stained glass windows.  The carol, “O Come All Ye Faithful,” was the entrance hymn.  The Gospel told of the shepherds seeking the Christ Child – “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem …”.  Fr. Casey, the celebrant, spoke of the Birth as a message of hope, that the New Year would soon be upon us, and that the Christmas message should not be forgotten.

     The Christmas morning Mass at St. Monica and St. Augustine Church was said by Fr. Kennedy.  The readings progressed through the Isaian prophecies and into Paul’s letter to Titus – “ … our Savior appeared, not because of righteous deeds we had done, but because of his mercy,”  The Gospel was John, Chapter 1, “In the beginning was the Word …”

     There were numerous other celebrations.  Among them were Christmas services at St. Matthew and the Redeemer (Episcopal), and the Grace Church Christmas Eve worship.  St. George (Orthodox) held solemn services in their Cathedral on East Broadway.  The other Catholic Churches in South Boston held their own cycle of services.