PARISHES THROUGHOUT THE ARCHEPARCHY PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS
December 16, 2018
'TIS THE SEASON FOR PRE-CHRISTMAS CONCERTS AND ST NICHOLAS VISITS
Although some argue that the period before Christmas, "Pilipivka", is really a time for prayerful preparation and even fasting, sometimes Ukrainian Catholic faith communities - especially parishes - take advantage of the Christmas hullabaloo of the society in which we live. Parishes DO strive to maintain a period of spiritual preparation for the major feast of the Nativity of our Lord. However, they also realize that the wider Christmas culture of North America can also be tapped into for a great spiritual and educational benefit (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Thus, not a few parishes have at least some semblance of a Christmas concert.... a visit from St. Nicholas and/or Santa Cause and perhaps even pre-Christmas dinners organized by various organizations in the parish.
This gives catechism programs especially an opportunity for the children to learn traditional, theology-rich Ukrainian Christmas carols and to collaborate with other children and parents to perform a pre-Christmas meditation of the real significance of the feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It must be said, however, that some parishes do strive to maintain the tradition of holding off the Christmas revelry until Christmas Eve and then continue it right up to eve of the Feast of the Encounter (Presentation) on February 2.
