Share the Good News of Jesus

We are excited to welcome you to our Christmas services!

The Christmas Masses at Our Lady of Mercy are located at 701 South Eola Road, Aurora. Please see the FAQ items below that may help to answer questions you might have.  Hope to see you at Christmas @ OLM!

FAQs

Where are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses? And at what times?

Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mercy, located at 701 South Eola Road, Aurora (between the high school and the community center).

Christmas Eve Masses – Tuesday, December 24

• 3:00 PM – in both the Church* and the Parish Life Center (PLC)
• 5:00 PM – in the Church
• 7:00 PM – in the Church
• Midnight – in the Church*

Christmas Day Masses – Wednesday, December 25

• 8:00 AM – in the Church
• 10:00 AM – in both the Church* and the Parish Life Center (PLC)
• 12:00 PM – in the Church

*Please note that incense will be used at the following Masses

• 3:00 PM (Church, Christmas Eve)
• Midnight (Church, Christmas Eve)
• 10:00 AM (Church, Christmas Day)

We hope you’ll join us to celebrate the joy and hope of Christ’s birth!

Which Christmas Masses will be livestreamed?

The following Christmas Masses will be livestreamed:

• Christmas Eve (Tuesday, December 24): 3:00 PM
• Christmas Day (Wednesday, December 25): Midnight Mass and 10:00 AM

You can watch the livestreams on olmercy.com, YouTube, or Facebook. Join us online to celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth from wherever you are!

How many seats will there be for each Mass?

For the 3:00 PM Christmas Eve Mass and the 10:00 AM Christmas Day Mass, services will be held in both the Church and the Parish Life Center (PLC) to provide additional seating.

For all other Christmas Masses, services will take place inside the Church only.

There will be plenty of seating available at all Masses. No matter where you are seated, you’ll be able to see, hear, and fully participate in the celebration of the Mass. We look forward to celebrating this joyful season with you!

Will the annual concert before Midnight Mass take place?

Absolutely! This year’s Christmas Concert, titled “The Glory of Christmas” by Lloyd Larson, will begin at 11:15 PM on Christmas Eve.

Enjoy a beautiful performance by a mini chamber ensemble featuring a string quartet, percussion, trumpet, and the Our Lady of Mercy Choir, led by our talented music director, Frank Sauter.

Through a blend of familiar carols and original songs, you’ll experience the wonder of the Incarnation story as if for the first time. Join us for this inspiring celebration of music and faith!

What are the Mass Times for the Feast of the Holy Family?

• Saturday, December 28th: The Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 4:00 PM.
• Sunday, December 29th: Masses will be celebrated at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 5:30 PM.

We warmly invite you to join us in celebrating this beautiful feast, which highlights the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as a model for our own families. Their mutual love, patience during trials, and unwavering obedience to God’s will inspire us to live together in the peace of God’s love. We hope you can be part of this special celebration!

How Can I Give a Christmas Offering to OLM?

Thank you for your generosity! Your gift plays a vital role in furthering the mission of Our Lady of Mercy. It enables us to serve and impact thousands of lives in our parish and beyond, spreading God’s love and support to those in need.

How can I make a Christmas offering?

• Online: Donate quickly and securely by clicking here.
• In-Person: Simply place your offering in an envelope and bring it to any of our Christmas services.

Your thoughtful contribution helps us continue our mission and make a meaningful difference. Thank you for being part of this beautiful work!

Invite a Friend to Christmas Mass

A church building can be an intimidating place to enter for the first time, but you can be the vessel in bringing the Good News to people by a simple invitation.  God is on the move in this special season, and we get to be a part of what He’s doing. You can help share the Good News of Jesus by inviting others to our Christmas Masses.  Sometimes, a simple invitation can be helpful to someone you may not even know is struggling.  Here are some ideas to get you started!

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These graphics are all yours! Save any of these images on your device to share on social media, in a text message, an email, or any other platform of your choosing.  Just right-click on the graphic and copy the image.

Writing Prompts

Stuck on how to word an invite? Here are some templates to get you started.

• Text Message
  Hey _____! If you’re looking for a special way to celebrate Christmas this year, I wanted to let you know my church is having Christmas Mass on 12/24 @ 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 12/25 @ midnight, 8am, 10am, and 12pm.
• Email
  Hi ______, I hope you’re doing well and keeping warm and healthy! I know this year has been demanding, but if you’re looking for some encouragement, I’ve been going to Mass at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.  Would you be interested in going with me? Let me know what you think!  You’re welcome to join me. The Christmas Mass times are 12/24 @ 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 12/25 @ midnight, 8am, 10am, and 12pm.
• Social Post
  If anyone is looking for a special way to celebrate Christmas, you’re welcome to join me for Christmas Mass!  Our Lady of Mercy Christmas Mass times are 12/24 @ 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 12/25 @ midnight, 8am, 10am, and 12pm. Let me know if you’d like more info or check it out at olmercy/christmas2024

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A Christmas Reflection

by Father Michael Kearney

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize!” —1 Corinthians 9:24

I’m very competitive.  I may or may not “talk smack” if you try to take me on in card games or sports…especially when I’m good at them—that includes bowling, by the way, so watch out OLM bowling league.  As I reflect, I see that this competitive spirit began in grade school, carried into high school, and has even continued into priestly ministry!

Competition is a good thing (and I’m not just saying that because I’m biased).  It is something that reminds us of the need to put in the necessary effort and discipline if we want to succeed.  St. Paul writes, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize!” (1 Cor 9:24) St. Paul desires that people put the same effort they put into sports into growing their faith.

Still, there is one area of our lives where competition should have no place: our relationship with God.  This is because God is not in competition with us.  What we learn as children and adults—namely, “if somebody else wins, I lose”—doesn’t translate in our relationship with God.

When my nephew was a tiny infant, it was a joy just to be able to hold him. I didn’t challenge him to a competition, or question who was winning out the most in our relationship.  I just wanted to be with him—to hold him and to rejoice in him. The Lord desires the same kind of relationship with us.  He wants to be with us! He wants to be held close to our hearts, just as He holds us close to His own heart.

This shows us one of the reasons why God chose to become an infant.  He wants to break through our imagined competition with Him, and show us that fighting against Him is just about as unreasonable as fighting against a helpless infant. When God wins, we win. Let’s be thankful this Christmas for our God who is so powerful and majestic that He’s not afraid to become a helpless tiny infant, showing us just how much He wants to be with us, and just how far He is willing to go for us!

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Understanding the Catholic Christmas Season

What is the difference between the Christmas Eve, Midnight and Christmas Day liturgies?

The celebration of Christmas within the Catholic Church is marked by a rich tapestry of liturgical observances, each with its own unique significance and beauty. The different liturgies—Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass, and Christmas Day Mass—serve to deepen the faithful’s understanding and experience of the Nativity of the Lord.

The Vigil Mass (Christmas Eve)

The Christmas Vigil Mass, celebrated on December 24, serves as the gateway to the Christmas celebration. This liturgy is characterized by a sense of eager anticipation, encapsulating the essence of Advent as it looks forward to the birth of Christ. The prayers and readings are predominantly in the future tense, emphasizing the hope and expectation of the coming Savior. For instance, the Entrance Antiphon proclaims, “In the morning you will see his glory,” which sets a tone of joyful anticipation1.

The readings during this Mass include a genealogy from St. Matthew’s Gospel, which connects the birth of Jesus to the long history of salvation, highlighting the fulfillment of God’s promises. This liturgy is akin to a child waiting to unwrap a Christmas gift, filled with suspense and excitement1. The Vigil Mass is a beautiful moment of reflection, allowing the faithful to prepare their hearts for the joyous celebration of Christ’s birth.

Midnight Mass

Midnight Mass, often referred to as the “Mass of the Shepherds,” is celebrated at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve. This liturgy is steeped in tradition and is one of the most attended Masses of the year. It marks the actual moment of Christ’s birth, and the readings reflect the joy and wonder of this event. The Gospel reading from St. Luke recounts the announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, emphasizing themes of humility and divine revelation.

The Midnight Mass is particularly beautiful due to its solemnity and the atmosphere of night, which symbolizes the darkness that Christ came to dispel. The liturgy often includes the singing of carols and hymns, creating a festive and reverent ambiance. The faithful gather in the stillness of the night, united in their celebration of the Incarnation, making this Mass a profound experience of communal joy and worship.

Christmas Day Mass

The Christmas Day Mass, celebrated during the day on December 25, continues the celebration of the Nativity. This liturgy often features a more festive atmosphere, with decorations and music that reflect the joy of the season. The readings for this Mass focus on the theological significance of the Incarnation, with the Gospel of John proclaiming, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). This highlights the profound mystery of God becoming man, inviting the faithful to contemplate the implications of this divine act3.

The Christmas Day Mass is a celebration of light and joy, often attended by families and communities coming together to rejoice in the gift of Christ. The liturgy is marked by a sense of fulfillment, as the faithful celebrate the reality of the Savior’s birth and its impact on their lives.

Summary

Each of these liturgies—Christmas Vigil, Midnight Mass, and Christmas Day Mass—offers a unique perspective on the Nativity of the Lord. The Vigil Mass prepares the heart with anticipation, Midnight Mass celebrates the moment of Christ’s birth with reverence and joy, and the Christmas Day Mass invites the faithful to rejoice in the fulfillment of God’s promise. Together, they create a beautiful and profound experience of the Christmas season, allowing the faithful to engage with the mystery of the Incarnation in a deeply meaningful way.

When does the Catholic Christmas season begin and end?

The Catholic Christmas season officially starts on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024, with the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord, and concludes on Sunday, January 5, 2025, with the celebration of the Epiphany. In the United States, Epiphany is celebrated on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8.

What is the Octave of Christmas?

The Octave of Christmas is an eight-day period of special feasts and celebrations in the Church, starting on Christmas Day and ending on January 1 with the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.

Feast Days During the Octave:

• December 25: Nativity of the Lord
• December 26: Feast of St. Stephen
• December 27: Feast of St. John the Evangelist
• December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents
• December 29: Feast of St. Thomas Becket
• December 30: Feast of the Holy Family
• December 31: Feast of St. Sylvester
• January 1: Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

How can I celebrate the Octave of Christmas?

• Attend Mass: Christmas Day and January 1 are holy days of obligation.
• Pray: Reflect on the saints and holy family members celebrated during the Octave.
• Learn: Discover more about the lives of the saints honored during this time.
• Listen to Christmas Music: Keep the festive spirit alive until Epiphany.

What are the 12 Days of Christmas?

The 12 Days of Christmas span from December 25 (Nativity) to January 6 (Epiphany). This tradition is rooted in both Christian liturgy and older winter customs. It celebrates key feasts, including the Octave, and honors figures like the Holy Family, saints, and the Magi.

Feast Days During the 12 Days:

• Day 1 (Dec 25): Nativity of the Lord
• Day 2 (Dec 26): Feast of St. Stephen
• Day 3 (Dec 27): Feast of St. John the Evangelist
• Day 4 (Dec 28): Feast of the Holy Innocents
• Day 5 (Dec 29): Feast of St. Thomas Becket
• Day 6 (Dec 30): Feast of the Holy Family
• Day 7 (Dec 31): Feast of St. Sylvester
• Day 8 (Jan 1): Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
• Day 9 (Jan 2): Feast of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen
• Day 10 (Jan 3): Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
• Day 11 (Jan 4): Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
• Day 12 (Jan 5): Feast of St. John Neumann

What is Epiphany?

Epiphany commemorates the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God, marked by the Magi’s visit to the infant Christ. Known as “Three Kings Day,” this feast highlights the universality of Christ’s mission.

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Prepare Your Heart for Christmas

The Advent season, beginning four weeks before Christmas, is a time of preparation. As Pope Francis reminded us in 2022:

“God is hidden in our life…in the commonest and most ordinary situations. He is there, in our daily work, in a chance encounter, in the face of someone in need.”

This Advent, take time to reflect on how Christ is present and reveals Himself in your daily life. Vist our Advent page to explore more.

Merry Christmas from all of us! May your celebrations be filled with joy, reflection, and faith.