Christmas story is worth repeating, Bishop tells Hightstown parishioners

December 26, 2024 at 8:00 a.m.
(Michael Ehrmann)


"Christmas never gets old," Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., said to the parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua Hightstown, where he celebrated Mass on Christmas morning.

"The Christmas story this morning is no different than it has ever been. Same characters; same stable; same angels; same shepherds; same star year after year after year," Bishop O'Connell said in his homily. 

"You would think after 2,000 years, Christians would get tired of telling the same story. And, yet, they never have and I suspect they never will," he said. "That God became man, that the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us, has an impact upon us; it has an effect upon us; it means something important and changes us. Humanity is different because Jesus Christ -- the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace, the long awaited Messiah, the Eternal Savior -- became one of us. How could we be the same after recognizing that? It is news, it is a story truly worth repeating!"

Bishop O'Connell was principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass. Concelebrating with the Bishop were the parish priests -- Father Oscar Sumanga, pastor, and Father Arian Wharff, parochial vicar.

More to come on this story.

PHOTO GALLERIES: 

Christmas Day with Bishop in Hightstown
Christmas Eve with Bishop in Hamilton

Christmas Eve with Bishop in Manalapan


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"Christmas never gets old," Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., said to the parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua Hightstown, where he celebrated Mass on Christmas morning.

"The Christmas story this morning is no different than it has ever been. Same characters; same stable; same angels; same shepherds; same star year after year after year," Bishop O'Connell said in his homily. 

"You would think after 2,000 years, Christians would get tired of telling the same story. And, yet, they never have and I suspect they never will," he said. "That God became man, that the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us, has an impact upon us; it has an effect upon us; it means something important and changes us. Humanity is different because Jesus Christ -- the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace, the long awaited Messiah, the Eternal Savior -- became one of us. How could we be the same after recognizing that? It is news, it is a story truly worth repeating!"

Bishop O'Connell was principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass. Concelebrating with the Bishop were the parish priests -- Father Oscar Sumanga, pastor, and Father Arian Wharff, parochial vicar.

More to come on this story.

PHOTO GALLERIES: 

Christmas Day with Bishop in Hightstown
Christmas Eve with Bishop in Hamilton

Christmas Eve with Bishop in Manalapan

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