Tonkawa Catholic Church prepares for Christmas concert and Mass

ST. JOSEPH’S CHRISTMAS CONCERT AND MASS

 Father Balaswamy Bathini will celebrate the Mass of the Nativity of the Lord at 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve, December 24 at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Tonkawa.

 Preceding the Mass, the Christmas Choir will begin caroling at 6:00 p.m., directed by Madison Gutierrez, accompanied on the organ by Jerry Steichen. The public is invited to attend the caroling and the Mass. 

The caroling will feature Abby Davis singing O Holy Night; Audrey Caughlin, Wexford Carol;  Madison Gutierrez, Patiently Have I Waited; Cecilia Tarrant, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent; and Abby Davis and Madison Gutierrez singing the duet Cantate Domino. The choir will perform God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; Maranatha, Lord Messiah; Silent Night and Angels from the Realm of Glory.

 The Mass begins as the choir leads the congregation in singing O Come All Ye Faithful. The procession of celebrants and servers Nathan Caughlin, Maria Caughlin, and Wyatt Bellinghausen will enter the church with Kennedy and Evelyn Stanford and the children of the church bringing the figure of the Christ Child to the crèche. Father Bathini will bless the crèche and then light the Christ Candle as the choir sings Adeste Fideles.  Joe Caughlin will declaim the Christmas Proclamation.

 Lectors Robyn Caughlin and Nicole Caughlin will read from the Prophet Isaiah 62:1-5 and from the Acts of the Apostles 13:16-17, 22-25. Father Bathini will proclaim the Gospel according to Matthew 1:18-25 and preach the homily based on that scripture.

 The Zeledon family will present the offertory gifts as the choir sings Wood of the Cradle. During the sign of Peace, the choir will sing Dona Nobis Pacem. As the congregation receives Holy Communion the choir will sing Take and Eat and Christmas Communion Song while Communion Ministers Phillip Caughlin, Reta Swords and Darren Pendleton distribute the Blessed Body and Blood of Christ.  The choir and congregation will join in singing the final hymn, Joy to the World.

 Robyn Caughlin will serve as sacristan. The eternal God is symbolized by the evergreen wreaths placed in the windows by Anne Evans and Melinda Glasgow. The light of Christ coming into the world is symbolized by the lighted Christmas trees arranged by the church youth group. Red ribbons and poinsettias symbolize the blood shed by the crucified Christ, who came into the world to bring salvation to mankind. The crèche, portraying the birth of Jesus, prepared by Glasgow, will remain throughout the Christmas season.

 Father Bathini will celebrate Christmas Eve Mass in Blackwell at 8:30 p.m. Caroling before Mass will start at 8:00 p.m. On Christmas Day he will celebrate Mass at 9:00 a.m. in Blackwell and 11:00 a.m. in Tonkawa.