JOINING THE FAMILY FRIEDRICH CHRISTMAS EVE GATHERING............

Late this afternoon and into the early evening I will be blessed to spent a fair amount of this Christmas Eve with the Family of Paul Friedrich, his wife, children, mother and other relatives, at this annual Christmas Eve gathering, as the surrogate Father Christmas, given Paul's Dad passed on to Eternal Life, a year and a half ago.  it will be a wonderful Family Christmas celebration, and a welcome addition to my Christmas Eve observance, before concelebrating and preaching at Midnight Mass in Sacred Heart Church later tonight.  Meanwhile, I am awaiting two back to back visits here at Mercy McMahon, from my friends and ministerial colleagues, Father Steven Avella; and Sister Julianna Clancy, RSM.  Fr. Steve is coming forst within the next half hour and Sr. Julianna will be here before lunch.  My Advent-Christmas Prayer for all of you in these hours is that you too may enjoy such interpersonal exchanges with family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, co-workers, and your fellow parishioners............tdp