Christmas 2023 around the diocese

This advent and Christmas season was filled with pageants, fairs, gift-giving, prayer and much more around the Worcester Diocese. Below is a glimpse at just a few of many parish events.
St. Joseph Parish had visits from special guests before Christmas. Santa Claus was spied Dec. 9 at the holiday bazaar, which included music, craft vendors and goodies. St. Nicholas made his annual visit the weekend after his Dec. 6 feast day – to proclaim God’s love and share it, in the form of candy canes for children. And “all the evangelists” retold the story of Jesus’ birth with a pageant, songs and narration by “St. Francis of Assisi” Dec. 17.
St. Peter Central Catholic Elementary School held its Christmas fair Nov. 18 at the school, with food, fun and gifts to purchase. Holy Family Academy held its Nativity Concert Dec. 10 in Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church. Students did readings and represented the Holy Family, angels, little drummers, shepherds, sheep and stars.
St. Mary Elementary School in Shrewsbury collected 1,500 books and 990 items of clothing for Columbus Park Preparatory Academy in Worcester Nov. 27-Dec. 11. St. Mary’s Service Club, led by middle school teacher Helen Collins, sorted the donations. The Service Club runs an annual book drive for the Worcester school, but recently learned clothes were also needed, since its clothing storage location was flooded.
Our Lady of the Valley School, Uxbridge and St. Cecilia Parish, Leominster held fairs in November and are pictured in this album.