December 16, 2013
The twinkling lights, festive parties and carols sung with glee may bring out the Christmas spirit in most folks, but for some they only serve to mock or add to hurt and pain they are feeling inside. For those who are suffering a loss or illness, geographic separation from loved ones or a host of other life situations, Christmas may be anything but delight.
“There are lots of things that can make it difficult for people to get through all of the buzz of Christmas when they aren’t feeling it,” said Father Rich Andre, CSP, associate pastor of Blessed John XXIII Parish at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
To offer comfort and hope to those for whom the holidays are a difficult time of year, Blessed John XXIII is joining the tradition of the Blue Christmas Mass, which will be celebrated at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The Blue Christmas Mass is a toned-down way to celebrate Christ’s Birth. “Silent Night” may be sung instead of “Joy to the World,” and there is soft lighting to create a quiet, reverent and welcoming place of comfort. Special attention is also paid to the wording of the liturgy’s greeting, homily and dismissal.
“We want people to feel welcome to come and celebrate the Lord’s birth just as they are, no matter what they are feeling or going through,” said Father Andre, who got the idea when he was serving his pastoral year at the St. Thomas More Newman Center at The Ohio State University in Columbus.
Some 200 attendees have been attending the Blue Christmas Mass at the Newman Center for the past eight years. The liturgy will also take place at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. After the Mass, people have an opportunity to gather in the lobby to visit with each other as well as reconciliation team members and pastoral staff. A local nursery donates poinsettias for each household present at the Mass, which includes a prayer card that welcomes them to come back to the center.
Word of the Blue Christmas Mass has been spread to other Catholic parishes and Christian churches, as well as on web sites, newspapers and counselors in the Columbus area.
“It is a concept that is catching on,” said Newman Center Director Father Joe Ciccone, CSP. “This is a way people can still get some peace, hope and joy out of the rough time of the holidays, but in a way that meets them where they are at this point in life.”