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True spirit of Advent and Christmas fills Paulist foundations

New York's Church of St. Paul the Apostle gets filled with Christmas spirit

by Stefani Manowski

St. Austin Catholic Parish

St. Austin, Austin
Parishioners participated in a communal penance service during the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Dec. 12. St. Austin School students presented an Advent Cantata Dec. 14 with vocal and instrumental arrangements under the theme “Advent Symbols.”

University Catholic Center, University of Texas at Austin
Students participated in the center’s St. Nicholas Party Dec. 6 complete with treats being served. The center also held a “Blue Christmas Mass” Dec. 24 for people not feeling in synch with holiday celebrations.

Holy Spirit Parish-Newman Hall, University of California at Berkeley
All were welcome to participate in the Advent wreath party on Nov. 26, volunteers hosted the Loaves and Fishes Holiday Dinner for the homeless on Dec. 1. Christmas trees, carols, presents and even a visit from Santa took place. On Dec. 3, Claire Anastas gave a talk about life in the walled town of Bethlehem and the impact of occupation on the daily lives of the Christian and Muslim inhabitants of Bethlehem.

Paulist Center, Boston

Paulist Center, Boston
The sounds of the season pealed through the Paulist Center Chapel with the Christmas concert series titled, “Gift of God, Gift of Peace.” Vocalists and instrumentalists participated in the two day event Dec. 15 and 16. Attendees on the 16th got an extra treat, as that was the children’s Christmas pageant.

Old St. Mary’s, Chicago
Old St. Mary’s families went on an Advent adventure after Dec. 2 Masses. Each family received materials, activities and ideas to make Advent meaningful for every family member. Participants learned how to make all the Christmas symbols - from candy canes to reindeer – point to Jesus.

St. Thomas More Newman Center at The Ohio State University, Columbus
Student volunteers will gather on Dec. 23 to assist the art and environment committee in changing the worship space décor from Advent to Christmas. Students also participated in a “Mitten Tree” project for the needy and baked cookies for Faith Mission Shelter.

Luke University Parish, Allendale, MI

Catholic Information Center, Grand Rapids, MI and St. Luke University Parish, Allendale, MI
Advent got to a quick start in Grand Rapids with an Advent storytelling night Nov. 30. Things continued with a concert of Polish Christmas carols Dec. 8. In addition, the center hosted an ecumenical evening prayer every Wednesday in December.

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville
To get to know some Christmas customs from the Old World, parishioners at Immaculate Conception participated in a series of workshops Nov. 30. This year’s featured country was Germany. Participants sampled German foods, participated in German Christmas customs and storytelling, made Advent wreaths and calendars, made gingerbread men and houses, created ornaments and sang songs. St. Nicholas also made an appearance.

St. Paul the Apostle, Los Angeles
In addition to Advent-wreath making, the parish hosted a Jesse Tree event where the ornaments made by the St. Paul School arts council on the tree were filled with invitation – to prayer, to action to giving. The parish also held a Paulist Choristers Concert titled “Jubilate Deo” Dec. 15, and a traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols Dec. 16 featuring the combined St. Paul’s choirs. The festival was followed by a reception of traditional English tea and mince pies.

U.C.L.A. University Catholic Center, University of California at Los Angeles
Students sure didn’t miss Mom’s cookies during the cookie and movie night Dec. 5. Students brought a variety of cookies to share, and then watched a Christmas-themed movie the attendees voted on. The community also went Christmas caroling Dec. 2.

St. Lawrence Catholic Church and Newman Center, Minneapolis
The annual Christmas bazaar took place Dec. 1 and 2 featuring the homemade crafts and baked goods of parishioners as well as a Grannie’s Attic, country store and jewelry.

Church of St. Paul the Apostle, New York

Church of St. Paul the Apostle, New York City
The parish hosted the Fordham University Festival of Lessons and Carols and Christmas Concert Dec. 1. Parishioners and friends were also invited to a parish brunch the next day. Parishioners also held a Christmas gift-wrapping pizza party for the clients of the St. Luke-Roosevelt HIV Center for Comprehensive Care the same day. The party served 150 children 8-18 and 300 adults with HIV-AIDS. Another highlight on St. Paul’s Advent calendar was the “Music of the Holidays with the NYC Master Chorale” Dec. 8 and 9. Titled “Tomorrow’s Broadway Today 2,” the event featured new music by composers and lyricists performed by some of the best performing talent in singing.

Holy Family Chinese Mission, San Francisco
Parishioners held the White Christmas Ball and Dinner Dec. 8 in the auditorium of Old St. Mary’s Cathedral. The event began with a wine reception followed by a dinner and dessert buffet.

Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco
Parishioners of Old St. Mary’s took the idea of an Advent giving tree to its true meaning. Donations and gifts from the tags on the tree went to help a homeless shelter, an home for people with AIDS, domestic abuse shelter, an adult day center and more. They even went international with the giving tree as a $10 donation went to Nothing but Nets, a program that provides and distributes mosquito nets for people living in malarial areas of Africa.

St. Philip Neri Church, Portland

St. Philip Neri, Portland
St. Philip Neri opened the season with its annual concert featuring Michael Allen Harrison with special guest Julianne Johnson Nov. 26. Father Michael E. Evernden, C.S.P., led this year’s parish Advent retreat on the “Mystery of Christ in You” held at the Shalom Center in Mt. Angel, Ore. “Praying with Psalms” was presented by Joe Bender in the Paulist Center Chapel on Dec. 2, while an Advent day of Recollection was led by pastor Father Rich Colgan, C.S.P., and Barbara Harrison. At St. Elizabeth of Hungary parish, pastor Father Jim Kolb, C.S.P., dressed up like St. Nicholas during the parish’s annual St. Nicholas Party complete with carols, stories and potluck dinner.

Santa Susanna, Rome
Approximately 200 parishioners and friends of Santa Susanna gathered for the parish’s annual St. Nicholas Charity Serata Dec. 1. Lights and music provided the ambience for the dinner, silent auction, live auction and raffle. The 2006 serata raised more than $26,000 in total proceeds disbursed to nine charities in Rome. With a rich tradition beginning more than 50 years ago with the women’s club bazaar, the 2007 serata had its largest crowd ever.

St Peter's Parish, Toronto

St. Peter, Toronto
Parishioners at St. Peter attended two evening faith formation experiences focusing on the two foci for Advent – remembering with joy the incarnation, and the end times and final judgment. Father Rick Walsh, C.S.P., and Father Jim McCauley led participants on an exploration of Scripture, church liturgy and traditions, and contemporary approaches to the two Advent themes. Everyone also enjoyed the Advent Cheer Breakfast Dec 2 complete with pancakes, eggs, sausages, door prizes and raffles.

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