I have some important information to bring to your attention, our Christmas Eve Mass schedule. This year, due to the virus, we will have three Masses offered, one at 3 PM, one at 4 PM and one at 5:30 PM. On Christmas day the Mass will be at 9 AM. Normally a Vigil Mass may not be offered until 4 PM or later on the Eve of a Holy Day but Bishop Hanefeldt has granted permission for an earlier time due to the pandemic. The hope here is to spread folks out and reduce crowding. Historically, people have attended the earliest Mass in the greatest numbers. The first one has always been packed and sometimes overflowing. Due to the limited seating, I anticipate the 3 and 4 PM Masses to be full. If you are concerned about having adequate social distancing, I strongly recommend that you try to attend the 5:30 PM Mass or the 9 AM Christmas day Mass. In the past the Christmas day Mass has had very light attendance. I strongly encourage you to wear a mask. As this is being written, there is not government mandate to wear a mask in Howard county. This could change by Christmas Eve. If it is mandated, we will post it at the door and have mask available as they always have been in the past. I know there are strong feelings about both sides of the mask issue. Both make strong arguments. I simply ask you to think of others in the choices you make. Please remember, it is Christmas! Yours in Christ our Lord. Fr. Sid.