Photo CTTO
THE EXCITEMENT is evident. Churches have been cleaned and floors well polished. Cobwebs that may have been left hanging and swinging in the upper nooks and corners of the churches for the past 11 months or less, are now finally replaced by colorful lights or decors.
Altar servers have been frantic in cleaning all the brass and silver (if there are still any) liturgical vessels, candelabras, chalices and ciboria – to come out shining and bright. Vestments have been chosen from among the best and I suppose, also cleaned, dry cleaned or washed, as the case may be.
Servers’ albs, or soutanas and surplices (for those who still dare) too are spic–and– span white and washed too as in whitewashed indeed. Hopefully those tears and holes in the lace ones or the loosened thread in the embroidery have also been repaired and patched.
Choirs have been polishing their festive songs apt for the night and dawn celebrations, and the stored Christmas carols too are being readied, keeping of course in mind that “Rudolph the Red–nosed Reindeer” or “Pasko na Sinta Ko” cannot be sung for communion and offertory. Some are “experting” themselves with the very jovial Capampangan songs, while still a few are grappling with their “pastorela music and songs orLatin hymns.” Oh, and do not forget some who are readying their tambourines and triangles; better yet, other parishes that can afford, their wind and string ensembles.
The churches are glistening with Christmas decors of lanterns and tube lights; even the very western mistletoes and Christmas balls and pine cones and leaves are all around in many church interiors and convents. I will not be surprised if even the face masks and shields would have Christmas emblems or images on them. Perhaps some might think of attaching reindeer horns on their face shields. The Nativitiy scenes or the Belens are already mounted, without yet the baby in the manger, of course. The “parish liturgists” or better yet, the ceremonieros are kept loaded with preparing the rubrics (of course!) and the list of servers… the who-on-the-first night; candlebearers, thurifers, thuribles (and sometimes the terribles); line-ups of servers who were not much visible through the past months now making a comeback are being accommodated (of course, it is Christmas, so all are welcome back).
Readers or lectors and EMDCs too have their own share in the exciting preparation. I am sure despite the pandemic, many would find time to have their hair done and procure some face-enhancing materials such as lipsticks for pouting lips; and some EMDCs might have taken the opportunity already to have their manicure done. Of course, they have the right to look their best when presenting God’s word to the assembly and when giving Jesus to the faithful.
The Amongs too
And do not forget the Amongs, the Curas of these parochial churches. They too can’t be spared from the excitement and the onerous responsibility of making sure that all the things needed are well prepared and hopefully executed; the hours and days they spend preparing for their homilies, though some may have been Messenger’ing their confreres for shared homilies, or Googling some famous sites for some good spiritual thoughts to share in their homilies; Amongs now reviewing (as they should) the presidential prayers and prefaces they need to chant and entone; polishing that “Gloooriaaaa in excelsis Deoooo”; and still some others must have really spent so much time meeting with their PPCs and “parish liturgists” for some – I hope, not surprising – “liturgical innovations and liturgical creativities” to enhance the spirit of the night and dawn celebrations.
And, speaking of the PPC, and let us include the Finance committees, the energy they must have put in inviting other priests to help in their parishes; in their efforts to scout for and invite “sponsors” (as many parishes still refer to them) for the Masses and the generous stipend both for priests and sometimes, choir groups and instrumentalists; and the distribution of the love-offering envelops (as some prefer to call them) to make sure that the parish has an extra help to defray for the snacks or late supper or breakfast of all liturgical ministers.
Why all these? Obviously, there is something SPECIAL. Despite the pandemic and the limitations imposed by the health protocols, these things are being done, and the excitement and thrill to do so was not lessened, albeit intensified even. These Misas de Aguinaldo preparations are significant of a SPECIAL SOMEONE that makes them too special. Not even the pandemic can put a stop to these, because Faith rises higher and above else.
Thank all these people – your parish priests, your altar servers, the choir groups, the EMDCs and lectors, the other church workers and employees – for their efforts to show you that not even the pandemic can dampen our Christmas spirit. Pray for them too, as we start these lovely nights and dawns of Eucharistic offerings, may they bring to joyful completion all these that they have been preparing for; through their efforts, may the Christmas joy and Spirit reach your hearts and your homes, whether you are physically in Church or on online participation.
