Light up with blue, and come home for Christmas

Archbishop J. Michael Miller is inviting Catholics to return to church this Christmas, saying “your parish is open.”

Last Christmas, public Masses were still suspended due to the pandemic, leaving Catholics to watch livestreamed Masses at home.

This year the archbishop is welcoming people back in a video message  in which he invites the faithful to return and to invite others “to share with you this beautiful tradition” of Christmas Mass.

“We rejoice that the faithful can come together to praise the Lord for the great gift of Christmas and want to invite everyone to share in this blessing.”

The archdiocese is also continuing its Blue Light campaign, saying blue is the colour of the Blessed Virgin Mary and “so signifies trust and confidence in God, purity, virginity, innocence, and birth. It’s also a sign of hope and solidarity with families who have lost loved ones and are experiencing a ‘blue Christmas’ this year.

The faithful are invited to visit rcav.org/christmas for more information about Mass and confession times as well as other Advent information.

Blue lights abound around pastoral centre

The John Paul II Pastoral Centre is joining with parishes across the archdiocese to mark the Blue Light campaign, which started last Christmas when churches were closed to public worship.

The centre’s grounds are lit up with strings of blue lights that illuminate the trees, the statue of St. John Paul II, the cross on the rooftop, and the building’s Christmas tree. 

Bishop David Monroe’s collection of creches from around the world has also been set out in a blue light display in the pastoral centre. 

One block away, Holy Name Church is decked out in blue. 

Be sure to visit your church this Christmas to view the lights and attend Mass. Email us your Blue Light photos at [email protected].