Special to the Democrat

Christmas is a major cultural and religious event in our society. In Roman Catholic congregations, Christmas is a major spiritual event that is marked by worship service known as Mss. Father David O’Connor, pastor of St. Mary Basilica and Assumption congregations has announced the schedule of Masses in the Natchez area. “Each of the three Catholic churches in the Natchez area have scheduled a number of Masses.” He said.

Assumption Catholic Church at 10 Morgantown Road has scheduled a vigil Mass at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and a Christmas Day Mass at 8:30 a.m. on Christmas Day. The vigil Mass on Christmas Eve will be preceded by carol singing 5:30 to 6 p.m., and the music for the Mass will be directed by Richard Butler and Assumption Choir.

Father James Fallon, pastor of Holy Family congregation in Natchez and St. Anne Church in Fayette announced that “there will be a 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Christmas Eve

Mass at Holy Family Church and an 8 a.m. Mass on Christmas day. Mass at St. Anne Church in Fayette will be at 11 a.m. on Christmas Day and a 1 p.m. Mass on Christmas Day Mass is scheduled at St. John the Baptist Church in Cranfield.

St. Mary Basilica has scheduled two Christmas Eve Masses, one focused on families and children at 4 p.m., and one at 9 p.m. (formerly scheduled at midnight). On Christmas

morning there will be a 10 a.m. Mass. Father O’Connor said “the 4 p.m. vigil Mass will be preceded by a festival of carols at 3:30 p.m. directed by Alvin Shelby and the Basilica Children’s choir. The service at 4 p.m. will include the traditional Christmas scripture readings and the dramatization of the Christmas story by members of the children’s Sunday school.

A festival of carols beginning at 8:30 p.m. will precede the 9 p.m. vigil Mass. The carols and the music program will be led by Dr Patrick Doherty and the St. Mary Basilica choir. The music program will include special guests Gabriella Richardson, Kathleen Mackey King and Cherish McCallum. A 10:00 am Mass is scheduled for Christmas Day at St. Mary Basilica with music directed by Dr. Patrick Doherty.

Pastors O’Connor and Fallon said, “We welcome people of all faiths to attend and join us  as we celebrate the anniversary of Jesus’ first coming. We wish everyone a blessed Christmas.”