By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer

Midnight Mass at Christmas is a cherished tradition of the Catholic Church.

In the Philadelphia Archdiocese, Midnight Mass is definitely not a practice of the past. Numerous parishes celebrate Mass at Midnight on Dec. 25.

“Traditionally, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord with Masses at three different times of the day: the Mass during the night, the Mass at dawn and the Mass during the day,” said Father G. Dennis Gill, director of the archdiocesan Office for Worship. {{more}}

“What made each of these Masses unique – while all celebrating the Nativity of our Lord – were the prayers of the Mass and the Biblical texts, focusing on different aspects of the Mystery of the birth of Jesus.”

In more modern times, the Church commemorates the Nativity of our Lord with the vigil Mass for Christmas, celebrated after 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24; at the Mass during the night which, through time, became associated with the midnight hour of Dec. 25; and at Masses in the early morning and during the day.

Cardinal Justin Rigali will celebrate Mass at Midnight on Christmas at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, located at 18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Prelude music, presented by the Cathedral Basilica Choir and the Cathedral Brass Quartet, begins at 11 p.m.

As a priest and worship director of the Philadelphia Archdiocese, Father Gill said he is an advocate of the Midnight Mass at Christmas. “It’s a wonderful way to keep the tradition of singing with the angels: ‘Glory to God in the Highest’ and welcoming the newborn King, as the Gospel tells us,” Father Gill said.

The Catholic Standard & Times recently asked the pastors of the Philadelphia Archdiocese’s 268 parishes whether or not their parish celebrates Midnight Mass at Christmas.

Among the churches in the Archdiocese where Midnight Mass will be celebrated this Christmas:

Philadelphia-North Vicariate
St. Athanasius Church, 2050 E. Walnut Lane, Philadelphia
Holy Cross Church, 6440 Greene St., Philadelphia; sacred music begins at 11:45 p.m.
Our Lady of Consolation Church, 7051 Tulip St., Philadelphia; Christmas carols begin at 11:15 p.m.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church, Upsal Street between Ardleigh and Anderson Streets; choral singing begins at 11:30 p.m.

Philadelphia-South Vicariate
St. Augustine Church, Fourth Street south of Vine Street next to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge; Christmas carols begin at 11:45 p.m.
St. Cyprian Church, 525 Cobbs Creek Parkway, Philadelphia; sacred music begins at 11:15 p.m.
St. Donato Church, 403 N. 65th St., Philadelphia; sacred music begins at 11:30 p.m.
St. Monica Church, 17th and Ritner Streets, Philadelphia; Christmas carols, sung by the choir, begin at 11:30 p.m.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, 345 N. 63rd St., Philadelphia; choir chorale begins at 11:15 p.m.
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 63rd Street and Lancaster Ave., Philadelphia; the midnight Mass will be a solemn high Mass in the extraordinary form; sacred Christmas carols, led by the parish choir and accompanied by the organ and a string quartet, begin at 11:30 p.m.
St. Francis de Sales Church, 47th Street and Springfield Avenue, Philadelphia; the parish choir will provide sacred music at 11:30 p.m.

Bucks County
St. Ann Church, 357 Dorrance St., Bristol; traditional, sacred Christmas music begins at 11:30 p.m.
Assumption B.V.M. Church, Bristol Road and Meadowbrook Road, Feasterville
St. Bede the Venerable Church, 1071 Holland Road, Holland
Nativity of our Lord Church, 625 W. Street Road, Warminster; music by the parish choir and brass begins at 11:30 p.m.
Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2913 Street Road, Bensalem; Christmas carols begin at 11:30 p.m.
Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 611 Knowles Ave., Southampton
St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, 999 Reading Ave., Yardley; sacred music begins at 11:30 p.m.
St. Vincent de Paul Church, Hatboro and Tanyard Roads, Richboro; a choir concert begins at 11:30 p.m.

Chester County
Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 35 Old Eagle School Road, Strafford; sacred Christmas music begins at 11:15 p.m.
St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 209 W. Lincoln Highway, Coatesville; a sacred music medley, presented in English, Polish and Latin, begins at 11:30 p.m.
St. Cornelius Church, 160 Ridge Road, Chadds Ford; sacred music begins at 11:30 p.m.

Delaware County
St. Charles Borromeo Church, 3422 Dennison Ave., Drexel Hill; sacred music begins at 11:30 p.m.
St. Gabriel Church, Mohawk Ave. and Seminole Ave., Norwood; sacred music will be presented at 11:30 p.m.
Immaculate Conception Church, 21 W. Eighth St., Marcus Hook; Christmas carols and readings begin at 11:30 p.m.
St. Pius X Church, 220 Lawrence Road, Broomall
St. Rose of Lima Church, 1901 Chester Pike, Eddystone
St. Katharine Drexel Church, 1920 Providence Ave., Chester

Montgomery County
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Limerick; sacred music will be presented prior to the Mass.
Holy Saviour Church, 409 E. Main St., Norristown; a Christmas concert begins at 11:30 p.m.
St. Mary Church, W. Elm and Oak Streets in Conshohocken; the Polish choir will sing the Kolendy beginning at 11:30 p.m.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 500 Ford St., Bridgeport; sacred music, sung by the parish choir, begins at 11:30 p.m.
St. Paul Church, 2007 New Hope St., Norristown
St. Rose of Lima Church, 428 S. Main St., North Wales: Auxiliary Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, principal celebrant and homilist; a pre-Mass music presentation begins at 11:30 p.m. Music before and during the liturgy will include all-professional singers, under the direction of music director and organist Michael H. Stairs of the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as solo violins, harp and a string quartet. Music selections will include traditional carols and choral and instrumental works.
Sacred Heart Church, 120 Jefferson St., Swedesburg; the parish choir presents a concert at 11 p.m.
St. Aloysius Church, 223 Beech St., Pottstown
Visitation B.V.M. Church, 196 N. Trooper Road, Norristown; the parish choir will present a concert of Christmas music at 11:30 p.m.

For more information, consult your pastor or church bulletin, or call Father G. Dennis Gill, director of the archdiocesan Office for Worship, at 215-587-3537.