Christmas Archives - Page 2 of 3

Shopping for the perfect words on Christmas giving

Presents under the tree, or haven’t you found just the right ones yet? December 20, 2013, edition By Bob Zyskowski “Got all your shopping done?” That’s often a conversation starter as we bump into friends these days leading up to Christmas. We Christians know and believe that the truly important gift was one we all…

Choose to make your life an example for others

Let the season’s joy and wonder point us all toward holiness December 20, 2013, edition By Chris Codden It is at this time of year that things around us seem so pure: new fallen snow, the crispness of a cold evening air, the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of course, the infant Jesus. As…

I will keep Christ in Christmas this year by . . .

Visitor Christmas Poster Contest winners named This year The Visitor selected winners for the $50 first prize from among 195 entries in the newspaper’s annual Christmas poster contest. While most entrants crafted their design with crayon or marker, a few chose painting or paper-cutting. Award winning posters are pictured below. First place winners: GRADES 1-3…

Do it yourself Advent – Week 4

December 20, 2013, edition Week 4 — Dec. 22 The following Advent wreath prayer for the fourth week of Advent is intended to help busy households make Advent a prayerful time during the rush of Christmas preparations. The language is fairly simple, to be used by groups of adults or adults with children. Sharing the…

Why do we have Nativity scenes?

Because they remind us why we celebrate Christmas December 20, 2013, edition By Father Michael Kwatera Q. Your November column on Advent got me thinking of how important my family’s Nativity scene is to me, and also the one used in my parish church for decades. I think they help us remember what is at…

Giving the gift of time

Thousands of volunteers bring Christmas cheer Dec. 20, 2013, edition By Sue Schulzetenberg-Gully For Mary Kuhn of Sacred Heart Parish in Glenwood, Christmas is about giving. “That’s what Christmas is,” she said. “The whole gift-giving [concept for Christmas] came from the birth of Christ. He was our greatest gift.” Giving, for her, is not just…

Getting ready for the pageant

Dec. 20, 2013, edition Photos by Sue Schulzetenberg-Gully Children around the St. Cloud Diocese are participating in Christmas pageants in their parishes. Pictured here, children from Sacred Heart Parish in Glenwood and St. Bartholomew Parish in Villard participated in a dress rehearsal Dec. 12. The Christmas pageant will be performed at 4 p.m. Dec. 22…

A blessing for the Christ child

Dec. 20, 2013, edition Children in St. Peter’s Square hold up figurines of the baby Jesus as Pope Francis leads the Angelus at the Vatican Dec. 15. Children observed an annual tradition by bringing their Nativity figurines for the pope to bless. CNS Photos

Christians can’t be gloomy . . .

. . . because Jesus always brings joy, Pope Francis says Dec. 20, 2013, edition By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Sadness is a sign of being far from Christ because Jesus offers everyone the strength to persevere with hope and joy, Pope Francis said. “God is the one who came to save us and…

Best gift in life is encountering Christ, pope says at start of Advent

Dec. 6, 2013, edition By Catholic News Service The best present in life is encountering Jesus — an encounter that will last a lifetime, Pope Francis said. A Christian’s whole life “is an encounter with Jesus: in prayer, when we go to Mass, when we do good works, when we visit the sick, when we…