THE faithful gathered in New Amsterdam at the Roman Catholic Church of the Ascension for Midnight Mass last Thursday evening amidst the noise outside Main Street. There were huge crowds outside Main Street, imbibing alcohol, reveling, chatting, and just having a good time as is customary on this evening. However, the All Saints Anglican Church and Church of the Ascension were moderately packed with midnight worshippers who chose to herald in one of Christianity’s most special festivals in church. At the Church of the Ascension, parish priest Monsignor Reverend Terrence Montrose read the Gospel which dealt with the popular recording of the Genealogy of Jesus; the reading, known for its tongue twisting names, listed the names of the ancestors of our Lord.

In his sermon that evening, he questioned how people can doubt that there is a God and not see Him in the expressions everyday around us. He challenged the faithful present to recognize God is among them and with them and never will forsake them.

At the end of the service, parishioners viewed the blessing of the Nativity crib, which was designed and constructed this year by the Mother Theresa Nuns in New Amsterdam in traditional ‘Indian’ style. The priest placed the Baby Jesus in the manger and blessed the scene with incense and holy water. Shortly after, he prostrated himself before the crib in brief prayer, before exiting the church to the sacristy. Afterwards, many parishioners exchanged Christmas hand- shakes, greetings and hugs with each other, and seized the opportunity to take photographs in front of the dazzling- looking Nativity scene.

The crib in Catholicism is credited to St Francis of Assisi , who in 1223 constructed a make- shift nativity scene out of ordinary materials. From then on, it became one of the much- loved symbols of this time of the year.

More Midnight Mass scenes from New Amsterdam at my website www.leonjsuseran.webs.com.
LEON SUSERAN