Children and Carolers Help St. Pats Celebrate Christmas Masses

in White Lake is bustling with the spirit of the season as thousands come to carol and see the Gospel reenacted by children at its Christmas Eve services.

“We have a Christmas Eve mass at 3:30 p.m. and that will have the children’s choir and the children’s drama,” said Diane Miller, St. Patrick’s worship coordinator.  

The choir consists of about 20 children, mainly 8-year-olds to 14-year-olds, who will serenade parishioners during their Saturday afternoon mass.

“Then, children act out the Gospel as its being read,” Miller said. Parish children will play the parts of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and angels. “It really brings home the story of Christmas and the kids really have a hands-on experience of what happens at Christmas.”

The children’s drama will be acted out in the church, but masses will be held simultaneously in the church hall and the gym in order to accommodate worshippers.

“We will have three priests saying mass at the same time,” Miller said. According to Miller, the three spaces collectively hold 1,800 people. “They are all always filled with standing room available.”

Rene Wisely, a member of St. Patrick's parish since 1998, will arrive an hour early to ensure she and her family will be able to attend mass in the church.

“Three years ago was the very first time we were able to get into the church because it’s that busy,” she said. “That mass is full of families and there are a lot of little kids. My daughter will be an altar server at that mass.”

According to Mary Domine, Christian service coordinator, the mass helps children to live their faith and participate.

“It also helps bring them in and get a close look at the nativity and what we're celebrating,” said Maggie Brady, volunteer catechist.

Before the 8:30 p.m. Christmas Eve mass, the adult choir will lead congregants in Christmas caroling, a tradition that has been in place at the parish for many years.

“It takes place at 8 p.m. in the church. Members come ahead to hear Christmas music and they sing along with the Christmas caroling,” Miller said. “There are about 25 people in the adult choir and they will be singing traditional Christmas songs.”

The church also holds a 5 p.m. mass on Christmas Eve, which features a family group of songbirds, and a 6:30 p.m. mass that will feature a folk group.

“This has been the Christmas Eve mass schedule for a very long time,” Miller said.

St. Patrick Catholic Church will also hold services on Christmas Day at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12 p.m.