After attending midnight Mass, I will spend time in an old age home

After attending midnight Mass, I will spend time in an old age home
‘And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth Luke 1:14.’ Rediscovering the Joy of Christmas sermon is a Bible verse that expresses what Christ’s birth means to us. Christmas is one of the most sacred and popular festivals of the Christian community celebrated all over the world. For over 2,000 years, it is being celebrated as an event of humanity and a path of honesty originating with the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Christmas is a time of peace, love and goodwill for all and it spreads the spirit of joy and happiness in everyone’s life. For me and my family, every time the moment of Christmas comes, we have something true and fresh to say about it.   

What matters to me is not shopping and partying till you drop or showing your face in church or hastily singing a few old hymns. Christmas is about giving and sharing, which are gestures of goodwill genuinely reflecting the emotions in our hearts. These should be the feelings towards each other that Christ directs and expects us to have.

On Christmas Day, people gather with family and friends to enjoy a festive meal and exchange gifts. This year, after attending midnight Mass, I will volunteer for a worthy cause by spending time in an old age home. Even if you aren’t a Christian, you can still celebrate the season in your own way.
Jennifer Crasto, customer service

The women and children in our ashrams get together for Christmas
Maher is a home for destitute women who have nowhere to live. It is also an abode for children who are abandoned on the street, even ones from the red light area in the city. For the children, we have 22 ashrams in Pune and one each in Cochin (Kerala), Ratnagiri and Jharkhand. We have four ashrams for women with separate homes for elderly women and those who are mentally disturbed.
Irrespective of the religion and caste, everyone is welcome here. They are all treated equally and given the freedom to practise their faith. All festivals, be it Diwali, Eid, Christmas or Buddha Poornima, are celebrated with the same gusto.

On Christmas eve, children from all the centres of Maher come together and celebrate. During the night and the next day, we organise special prayers, wherein children read out verses from the Bible, Bhagvad Gita and Quran. These children are taught every aspect of sharing, caring and respecting all religions. We also tell them about Jesus Christ and that he was on the earth for everyone, not just Christians. He did not
intend to create a religion; we have created it.
Sister Lucy, founder, Maher Ashram

In this world of sadness, be a ray
of hope for someone
‘Glory to god in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to all.’ This was the message given by the angels 2,000 years ago at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. And the same message is given during Christmas even today.

By the birth of Jesus Christ, god is glorified. Jesus came to bring about peace and goodwill among all. Christmas today is not restricted to Christians alone; it is for all as we need peace and goodwill. This festival is not just about wearing good clothes, making sweets, decorating houses and going for parties. Christmas is about working for peace and harmony within the family and among the neighbours. 

Christmas is about putting our goodwill into action. We must ask ourselves, what can I do to bring goodness and peace in the lives of others? Christmas invites us to be other-centred. In this world of ambiguity,
depression, anxiety and sadness, be a ray of hope for someone. In these times of resentment and revenge, work towards bringing peace and forgiveness in your own relationships with others. Don’t wait or watch, look around and reach out to those who are in need of your help. Bring a smile on someone’s face and you will have celebrated Christmas in a true sense.
Fr Malcolm Sequeira, rector, St Patrick’s Cathedral

We plan to give blankets, woollen clothes to the poor
Ask anyone from my church and they will all agree that December is the most enjoyable month of the year. Not only because it’s Christmas, but also because during this time of the year all the members of St Mary’s Youth League from St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church, Yerawada, go out spreading the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ to all the houses of our church members in the form of carols.

I personally feel that Christmas is the season of hope, love, peace and togetherness. Every year, all of us from the church used to provide a meal to the poor and needy people in and around Pune Railway Station. However, this year considering the cold weather, we are planning to give blankets and woollen clothes to the poor to spread a little warmth. Everyone reading this should take a moment and thank god for everything in your life and know that each and everyone of us is a blessed child.
Jasmy Bazil, banking professional

The experience at the children’s orphanage was fulfilling
As a Catholic, I will be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ with my family, friends and relatives. I am looking forward to spending the entire season with them. The Santa Claus element is a lot of fun for children as it is full of surprises. I will be attending midnight Mass with my family and the next day, we will have Christmas lunch together.   

As Christmas is also about giving and sharing of goodwill, my family visited a children’s orphanage in the city and distributed Christmas trees, gifts and sweets. We spent the whole day there, playing with them. We also told the children in the family about what sharing goodwill and happiness means. We made them realise that there are many who do not get a chance to enjoy Christmas like we do.
Shalome Raj, writer

Spending time with family and friends is a joy in itself
Christmas is the festival of joy and goodwill. It celebrates the birth of Jesus and this is what makes it special for me as I am a firm believer in Christ.

It is also the festival of togetherness. Christmas is the time when you can actually get together with family, close friends and relatives. This is something that, owing to busy and hectic work schedules, is unlikely to happen at any other time of the year. The preparations start well in advance. We decorate the house and also get a Christmas tree. All our near and dear ones come over to our place. We make cakes and all kinds of sweets to feast on.

On the eve of Christmas, we distribute them among family and friends. It is all good fun.
Charles Morris, property consultant

Live for others; that’s the message we should be spreading
On Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who redeemed the people of their sins. Christmas isn’t only about the Christmas tree or Santa Claus, but also about the joy of sharing peace and goodwill among one and all. Greed, pride and hatred are common in people nowadays. Love others, live for others, care for others and sacrifice for others; it is not between you and the rest of the world, but between you and god.  Christmas means sharing joy and happiness and that is what the youth group of Saint Mary’s Jacobyte Syrian Church, Yerawada, is planning to do this Christmas.

To help the poor and needy this winter, we will be distributing clothes and blankets, so that they can keep themselves warm.  
Joseph Kuriakose, operations executive

There is no room for bitterness or animosity this season
Christmas means a great deal to me. The air exudes joy and gaiety and the feeling of doing something good. Christmas is also the time to move on and renew relationships that have gone sour. There is no room for bitterness or animosity here. We forget the past, let go of all our pride and just celebrate the birth of Christ in each other’s company. This is when we truly feel like it is Christmas.

I try to change myself completely. I make sure to not be angry with anybody. I invite my sisters and friends to my house and we have our own little party. I prepare grape wine, rose cookies, kulkuls and puffs, apart from delicious biryani and cutlets. On Christmas eve, we go to the church for midnight Mass. The mood during this time is so cheerful that we even wish those whom we do not know at all.
Yvonne Katukaran, homemaker

Why do we have to wait for Christmas to do a good deed?
Christmas has always been a time to remember all that Christ really stands for — love, joy, sharing and caring. It’s time to let people know how important they are to you and to spend time with them.
The most important part of my Christmas decorations is the crib — the constant reminder of god who humbled himself to come to earth. It’s a good day to share little thoughtful gifts too that are symbolic of Christ’s gift to us.

These little presents are one way to let others know that they are special to us. It is also a good day to spread cheer among the less fortunate. I wonder why we have to wait for Christmas for this gesture of gratitude. It is something we should be doing throughout the year. With my twins, we try to do something special every year for someone else. A visit to a children’s home with toys and treats is what I have planned this time.
Michelle Pinto, writer

Santa should give gifts to all children
I eagerly wait for Christmas every year. It is my favourite festival. The one aspect of this festival that I love the most is Santa Claus. Santa must give gifts to all children as it makes us happy. This year, I have asked him for a pair of skates. We start preparing for Christmas many days in advance. I like to put cute little decorations on my Christmas tree. I also help my mom in making sweets such as cakes, chocolates, kulkuls and shankarpali. I love going to the church and always attend the midnight Mass. I sing many carols too. My favourite ones are Jingle Bells and
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Anoushka Rao, 8 years