Norwich bulletin., 1917-12-26

Brother A believing ChriStmaS-a really religious Christmas-will ulti mately lead to a Christmas when we can truly hear the song of peace and goodwill and can wish each other A Merry Christmas without the feeling that such a salutation is contradicted by. the facts of life because in our hearts is the joy of knowing that we are indeed the children of God who are made glad with the remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ.
 Sacred Heart Church.
 - At the Sacred Heart church, Nor wich Town, Christmas day tehre were many at both masses. About the altar were palms, chrysanthemums, roses and carnations. Hemlock bOughS and evergreenS were used in the sane ont points. The crib, so realistic a re- hinder of the nativity. with it's bor- der of green, was at the epistle side Of the altar. The decorations were in charge of members of the Altar so- ciety.
 At the first mass at 1.30 o'clock the children sang very sweetly many of the hymns being new. At high mass at o'clock the full choir gave the anthems and choruses most harmo- Mrs. Morgan Crorin, Miss Bessie Cal iahan, Miss Mary Ryan and B. J. Houlihan, Miss Elizabeth Malone ac- companying- Rev. c. w. Brennan read
  the Wise Men. and commented upon it. Benediction of the blessed sacra- ment followed the mass.
 St. Patriek's Church.
 The earlier masses in St. Patrick's church, Christmas day, drew out the larger congregations, Catholic piety al- ways delighting especially in attend ing the first high mass of the festi- val. This was sung at 5.3O by the rector, Rev. J. H. Frederick. who gave Holy Communion to between four and five hundred parishioners.
 At this service the mass sung was that by La Hache, Organist and Choirister Frank L. Farrell having his voices well trained. The opening organ number was Bartletts Christ mas Morning." played with Mir. Far relIS customary skill.
 The 7-30 o'clock low mass was read by Rev. Myies P. Calvin and was large ly attended. Rev, Peter J. Cuny read the low mass at 9. many children and their elders assisting at the Holy Sac rifce. At both these services there weer many Christmas qcommunicants.
 The Junior choir, J. Henry La F'on- taine- organist, gave the following pro- gran1n1e at the. o'clock mass.
 Adeste F'ideles,
 Choir.
 Nocturne, Ed P Johnston
 .- Organ.
 Christmas offertory solo,
 Miss May Ansell. Holy Night.
 o Bethlehem of Modest Cities,
 Choir. Earcarolle' orsan A. J. Silver On This Postal Day We Sing,
 Choir. Jubilatc Dec, A. J. Silver
 The days services eliminated in the solemn high mass at 1-s0S in which Father Cuny was celebrant, Father Frederick deacon and Father Galvon sub b-deacon. At this service the choir repeated La Hache,s Mass, the soloists being Mrs. Frank l.. Farrell, soprano, Miss Loretta Bellef1eur, contralto, John Sullivan tenor and John Doyle bari- tone. Bakers string orchestra as- sisted the choir, playing as in former services with a precision and delicacy of tone which added appreciabl to the general effect of solos and choruses. Following the mass, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by Father Cuny and at this time Miss Isabel Petroni, soprano, sang O.'Sa1u- clear. The offertory was Adeste Fi-. deles, the chguch ma ajestic Christi mas hymn for centuries.
 Because of the length of the days services, Father Broderick, who preached at this mass, did not speak dresssd the congregation briefly from within the sanctuary railing. He read the gospels for the three masses of Christmas day, Luke ii 1-14, Luke ii, 15-29 and John |. 1-15 preaching on the Angels Message, at the Nativity peace on earth to men of good will : Christ was born in the humble sta ble of Bethlehem, assumed mans na- tbreo,d tbre to plsss in hSaG God souls wfs neighbor, with self. Incidentally, ref erence was made to those protesting to be followers of Christ who have turned from that ,fraternal peace and charity which the Saviour enjoined. may be applied with profit to indi- vidual lives was pointed out in con vineing and logical sequence. sE
 The church altars had been adorn-. settias, scarlet carnations and red roses, against a foil of trailing vines and glossy laurel and evergreen. Palms and towering plants were at space before the Blessed Virgins all tar the crib of Bethlehem has been erected. and this manager scene will remain until after the Epiphany. The, offerings for the crib are devoted to the poor, especially to poor children. St. Mary's Church. 5
 The Feast of the Nativity was ob-, served with appropriate ceremony at St. Mary's church Tuesday morning. The altar. was decorated with ever-e greens, holly, potted plants, palms palms and cut flowers. The first mass of the day was a high mass at 5.30l which was offered by Rev w. H Kennedy, following which he offered a. mass in private and low mass alt 7.30. The chi1dren's mass at 9 o'clock offered by the rector, Rev. J. H. Fitz-- maurice, who also celebrated the high mass at 10.Se- and following that off = ciated at the benediction of the bless- ed sacrament. -.@
 The theme of the priests was the. goodness of God who, not being con tent with creating the world and man. sent His only begotten Son into the. world to atone for the fall of man and regain for him lis heritage in heaven. The Crib of Bethlehem at the Epistle side of the altar attracted much attention and it will remain in place until Epiphany, Jan. G.. Follow ing an annual custom the special of. ferings for the day went to the pastor as Christmas remembrance. The