Share the Good News of Jesus

We are excited to welcome you to our Christmas services!

The Christmas Masses at Our Lady of Mercy are located at 701 South Eola Road, Aurora. Please see the FAQ items below that may help to answer questions you might have.  Hope to see you at Christmas @ OLM!

FAQs

Where are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses? And at what times?

Located at 701 South Eola Road, Aurora (in between the high school and community center), Our Lady of Mercy will celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Mass with the following Mass times.

• • Sunday 12/24 @ 3pm both in the Church and Parish Life Center PLC
    and at 5PM, 7PM and Midnight in the Church.
  • Monday 12/25 @ 8am, 10am, and 12pm in the Church.
  • Experience the joy, and please be aware that incense will be used at the 3pm Mass in the Church, Midnight, and 10am on Christmas day. We look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus with you!

What is the 4th Sunday of Advent Mass times; with Christmas coming on a Monday, what are the expectations, and options, for getting to church over the long weekend?

Christmas Day is a holy day of obligation, and the fact that it falls on a Monday doesn’t change the usual Sunday precept for Catholics to attend Mass the day before. While there are a lot of different times, including vigil Masses the night before, at which we can attend Mass and fulfill our obligations, it is not possible to fulfill them both with a single Mass. Those two obligations are distinct and have to be met separately. Simply put, two obligations mean two Masses; we get a back-to-back call to the festive celebration of Mass. With that said, the 4th Sunday of Advent Mass Times is Saturday 12/23rd at 4pm, Sunday 12/24th at 8am and 10am. 
To fulfill the 4th Sunday of Advent Obligation and Christmas Day Mass, here are some options to consider.

• Option 1 is to go for 2-for-2.  For the 4th Sunday of Advent, attend Sunday 12/24th 8am or 10am Mass, and then for Christmas Mass Day, attend Monday 12/25th at either 8am, 10am, and 12pm.
• Option 2 is Vigil Masses. There is, of course, more than one way to go to Mass twice in two days — especially at Christmas when a lot of people prefer to go to midnight Mass. For the 4th Sunday of Advent, attend the Saturday 12/23rd 4pm Vigil Mass and the Christmas Mass at Midnight Mass on 12/25th.
• Option 3 is The Long Weekend Way.  For the 4th Sunday of Advent, attend the 12/23rd 4pm Vigil Mass, and then for Christmas Mass, attend Sunday 12/24th at either 3pm, 5pm, or 7pm.
• Option 4 is Super Sunday Way. Instead of spreading your Eucharistic obligations across three days, you could opt to pack them into one Super Sunday. For the 4th Sunday of Advent, attend the 12/24th 8am or 10am Mass, and then for Christmas Mass, attend Sunday 12/24th at either 3pm, 5pm, or 7pm or Midnight Mass on 12/25th.

Which Christmas Masses will be livestreamed?

• 12/24th Christmas Eve at 3pm, 12/25th at the Midnight Mass, and the Christmas Day 10am Mass times will be livestreamed at olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org, YouTube, and Facebook!

How many seats will there be for each Mass?

• At the 3pm Christmas Eve Mass, both the Church and the Parish Life Center (PLC) will have Mass taking place.  The rest of the Christmas Mass times will be inside the Church only.  No matter where you’re located, you’ll be able to see, hear and participate fully in the Mass experience.

Will the annual concert before Midnight Mass take place?

• Most definitely!  This year’s Christmas Concert is called “The Glory of Christmas” by Lloyd Larson.  The concert will start at 11:15pm with a mini chamber ensemble, string quartet, percussions, trumpet, and the Our Lady of Mercy choir led by our wonderful music director Frank Sauter. Through a blend of familiar carols and original songs, experience the beauty of the incarnation story as if you’re experiencing it for the first time.

What about the Masses for the Feast of the Holy Family?

• On Dec 30th, the Saturday Vigil Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family is at 4pm.
• On Dec 31st, Sunday Mass times for the Feast of the Holy Family are at 8am, 10am, 12pm, and 5:30pm. We look forward to celebrating this wonderful feast that serves to lift up families for the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph through their mutual love and forbearance, in their patience in times of trial, and in their total obedience to God’s will for them gives hope for our families on how to live together in the peace of God’s Love.

How Can I Give a Christmas Offering to OLM?

• Foremost, thank you!  We are grateful for your gift for your donation makes a difference as it helps us to further the mission of Our Lady of Mercy and make a difference in the lives of thousands of people.  You can donate online at this link or simply place the offering in an envelope and bring it with you to any of the services.

Invite a Friend to Christmas Mass

A church building can be an intimidating place to enter for the first time, but you can be the vessel in bringing the Good News to people by a simple invitation.  Even in this season, God is on the move, and we get to be a part of what He’s doing. You can help share the Good News of Jesus by inviting others to our Christmas Masses.  Sometimes, a simple invitation can be helpful to someone you may not even know is struggling.  Here are some ideas to get you started!

Shareable Graphic
These graphics are all yours! Save any of these images on your device to share on social media, in a text message, an email, or any other platform of your choosing.  Just right-click on the graphic and copy the image.

Writing Prompts
Stuck on how to word an invite? Here are some templates to get you started.

• Text Message
  Hey _____! If you’re looking for a special way to celebrate Christmas this year, I wanted to let you know my church is having Christmas Mass on 12/24 @ 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 12/25 @ midnight, 8am, 10am, and 12pm.
• Email
  Hi ______, I hope you’re doing well and keeping warm and healthy! I know this year has been demanding, but if you’re looking for some encouragement, I’ve been going to Mass at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.  Would you be interested in going with me? Let me know what you think!  You’re welcome to join me. The Christmas Mass times are 12/24 @ 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 12/25 @ midnight, 8am, 10am, and 12pm.
• Social Post
  If anyone is looking for a special way to celebrate Christmas, you’re welcome to join me for Christmas Mass!  Our Lady of Mercy Christmas Mass times are 12/24 @ 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 12/25 @ midnight, 8am, 10am, and 12pm. Let me know if you’d like more info or check it out at olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org/christmas2023

SHARE THE FOLLOWING GRAPHIC ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, OR IN AN EMAIL OR TEXT MESSAGE

Don’t forget 

To arrive early, especially for the Christmas Concert “The Glory of Christmas” that starts at 11:15pm through 11:45pm prior to the Midnight Mass.

A Christmas Reflection

by Father Michael Kearney

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize!” —1 Corinthians 9:24

I’m very competitive.  I may or may not “talk smack” if you try to take me on in card games or sports…especially when I’m good at them—that includes bowling, by the way, so watch out OLM bowling league.  As I reflect, I see that this competitive spirit began in grade school, carried into high school, and has even continued into priestly ministry!

Competition is a good thing (and I’m not just saying that because I’m biased).  It is something that reminds us of the need to put in the necessary effort and discipline if we want to succeed.  St. Paul writes, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize!” (1 Cor 9:24) St. Paul desires that people put the same effort they put into sports into growing their faith.

Still, there is one area of our lives where competition should have no place: our relationship with God.  This is because God is not in competition with us.  What we learn as children and adults—namely, “if somebody else wins, I lose”—doesn’t translate in our relationship with God.

When my nephew was a tiny infant, it was a joy just to be able to hold him. I didn’t challenge him to a competition, or question who was winning out the most in our relationship.  I just wanted to be with him—to hold him and to rejoice in him. The Lord desires the same kind of relationship with us.  He wants to be with us! He wants to be held close to our hearts, just as He holds us close to His own heart.

This shows us one of the reasons why God chose to become an infant.  He wants to break through our imagined competition with Him, and show us that fighting against Him is just about as unreasonable as fighting against a helpless infant. When God wins, we win. Let’s be thankful this Christmas for our God who is so powerful and majestic that He’s not afraid to become a helpless tiny infant, showing us just how much He wants to be with us, and just how far He is willing to go for us!

Joy to the World!
Joyful joyful we adore Thee
God of glory Lord of love
Oh Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee
Opening to the sun above