If Pope Francis sees the church as a field hospital after battle, then his annual Christmas address to the Roman Curia often looks like the triage tent, with him holding the charts.
Christmas
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Christmas in St. Peter’s Square
The Christmas tree and Nativity scene decorate St. Peter’s Square during a lighting ceremony at the Vatican.
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Annual Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon
The Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon, Dec. 16 at Russo’s on the Bay, Howard Beach, raised nearly $750,000 which included money contributed from matching scholarship funds. The proceeds will benefit the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund and youth evangelization programs.
Tidings of Joy
The hymns of Advent and Christmas are so incredibly theologically rich.
Christmas Mass Listings
Listing of Christmas Masses in Brooklyn and Queens.
![George Weigel](https://thetablet.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/George_Weigel_75x75.jpg)
Books for Christmas
IT’S BEEN A good reading year and I highly recommend the following to the readers on your Christmas (not “holiday”) shopping list.
Yes, Santa Claus Lives!
Dear Editor: Each year, Patricia Daly, our fourth grade teacher shares the letter and response for: “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.”
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Students Bring Real Life to Nativity Scene
Parishioners saw Scripture come to life Saturday, Dec. 5 as students from Our Lady of Fatima School, Jackson Heights, portrayed a retelling of the Nativity story.
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The Vatican Christmas Stamp Features 15th Century Painting
This year’s Vatican Christmas stamps feature a 15th-century manuscript illumination of the Holy Family. The special edition stamps went on sale Nov. 19 in two denominations of 80 euro cents and 95 euro cents in sheets of 10.
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Vatican Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is positioned in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. It arrived earlier than usual to be ready for the Dec. 8 opening of the Holy Year of Mercy.