Entertaining at Bergan Mercy

A group of students from St. Columbkille Catholic School shared their musical talents at Bergen Mercy Hospital in March and April. In addition to playing instruments, some sang, and others performed an Irish Dance. Anyone wishing to play is welcome in future months.

Christmas Eve

 Before Mass they practised ...

 ... so they could lead the psalm.

The Mass began with the Children's Choir

 portraying the events of the nativity.

Then they led the assembly in song.

New Risers

New choir risers are in place as we prepare the sanctuary for worship again this weekend.

A Minute to Win it

The Children's Choir gathered yesterday to celebrate the end of their singing season. As part of their celebration they played a number of one-minute games.

 They threaded macaroni with a spagetti stick.

 They knocked over cups with air from a balloon they blew up.

 They tried to get an animal cracker from their

 forehead to their mouth without using their hands.

 Using one hand they sorted ten Skittles of each color.

There was also pizza and a crab volleyball game.

Thank you for helping with

 our liturgies this year!

Karly at Spirit Mass

The second Sunday each month our 5:00 p.m. Masses are largely done by our youth. If you attend this Sunday this weekend you'll see a new face as the accompanist: Karly Jurgensen.

If you watched the Pandora Unforgetable Moments on Ice special on NBC November 27th, you may have seen her playing with Mannheim Steamroller.

If you run into her at Mass say hello and welcome her.

The Patron of our Diocese

St. Cecilia is the name of our cathedral and the patron saint of our Archdiocese. Because she was so highly venerated by the ancient Roman Church, she is listed in the Canon of the Mass. Over the site where her home had stood a church was built in the fourth century. (Next year, John Norman should have his first Mass as a deacon in this church.) Her martyrdom probably occurred during the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus, about the year 230. In 1599 her grave was opened and her body was found incorrupt. Cecilia is the patron saint of Church music.

In an era when women were thought to be marital property, when Cecilia and many of the other early virgin martyrs made vows of lifelong virginity, they were really early feminists. It is said that she converted many to Catholisim, including the pagen who was to marry her. This led to her martyrdom.

Paul Simon, of Simon and Garfunkel fame, wrote the song "The Coast" which references her when a family of musicians taking refuge in the Church of St. Cecilia, which seems proper since she is the patron saint of musicians.