Merry Christmas!
Enjoy a collection of photos from the 2022 Midnight Mass at St. John Cantius below.
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
*denotes livestream
CHRISTMAS EVE – Saturday, December 24th, 2022
Church doors open at 10 pm - Confessions are heard
*11:00pm - Christmas Carols and Musical Prelude
*12:00am - Pontifical Midnight Mass with Bishop Joseph Perry (Latin - 2002 Missal)
CHRISTMAS DAY – Sunday, December 25, 2022
7:30am - Recited Mass (2002 Missal - Latin)
*9:00am - Sung Mass in English
11:00am - Sung Mass in Latin
*12:30pm - Sung Mass in Latin (2002 Missal)
*2:00pm - Solemn Christmas Vespers
OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS
Monday - Friday, December 26 - 30, 2022
8:00am - Sung Mass (2002 Missal)
9:00am - Low Mass (1962 Missal)
4:30pm - Solemn Vespers of Christmas
Wednesday at 7:30pm - High Mass (1962 Missal)
NEW YEAR’S EVE - Saturday, December 31, 2022
8:30am - Low Mass (1962 Missal)
11:00pm - Deo Gratias Service and Holy Hour
12:00pm - Midnight Mass (2002 Missal)
NEW YEAR’S DAY - Sunday, January 1st, 2023
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
7:30am - Recited Mass (2002 Missal - Latin)
*9:00am - Sung Mass in English
11:00am - Sung Mass in Latin
*12:30pm - Sung Mass in Latin (2002 Missal)
2:00pm - Solemn Vespers
Please note, the Sunday evening 5:00 p.m. Sung Mass (English) will not be offered on December 25th, 2022 nor on January 1st, 2023.
Christmas 2022
Dear Friends,
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.”
Too often it may seem as if there is no hope for our world, nor for us. Sin infects everything—our country, our cities, our families, and yes, even the Church which is also comprised of fallen natures. But Christmas calls us to what Springfield’s own Abraham Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature.” Because sin does not win in our story. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:5).
Our story here this past year was one of tumult and triumph. We embraced faith over fear in the face of challenges, and it showed in big ways. We were pleased this year to welcome our biggest class of new Christians, our biggest CCD enrollment, and our biggest benefit with even bigger hearts emboldened for the bright future ahead.
Every year at this holy time hundreds of red and white poinsettias adorn the High Altar of St. John Cantius Church for Christmas Masses. These unmistakeable colors represent the Blood and Water by which Our Lord ransomed many from sin, and brought redemption. Its impact is not limited to one historical event more than 2,000 years ago, because the Mystery takes place in our lives and on our altar each time the priest in persona Christi offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
That same Holy Sacrifice has been offered on our altars beginning in 1893 when, before the church’s construction could be completed, our forefathers couldn’t wait but to offer our church’s very first Mass—the Midnight Mass of Christmas—in our church basement. Today, the brothers and priests of the Canons Regular founded at our parish maintain this sense of urgency to bring the light of our Lord into this darkened world—this sense of Saint Augustine’s “restlessness”—and continue to offer that same Sacrifice all the while dedicated to bringing about “God and sinners reconciled.”
We invite you to join us for Christmas Masses and Devotions whether in person or through livestream. Thank you for your generosity which helps us continue to serve our city and beyond, and to proclaim that Christ is the light that overcomes darkness.
May Our Infant Lord bless you and your loved ones this Christmas.
Sincerely in Him,
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