This year our parish started a new high school Youth Group and we have been meeting regularly on Sunday evenings from 7-8:30pm in the Church Hall.  Every week about 10-12 high school students come to pray together, get to know each other, have some fun, and grow in faith together.  Our gatherings always start with Mass and then we move from Mass into our evening program which can be anything from a discussion on faith to a social activity to a group discussion on a particular topic of interest.  This past week, three of our regular attendees came in to discuss an article they found called: Christ, Consumerism, and Christmas (by Aaron Bart).  

    The teens led and participated in a wonderful and spirited discussion on the secularization of Christmas and what our response as people of faith should be.  It was such a great conversation that I wanted to share some of our thoughts and discussion points here in the bulletin.  

    Mr. Baart, who wrote the article, makes the argument that while Christmas is becoming more secularized (non-religious) what we as Christians should focus on is how we keep the holiday religious without being too concerned over what Starbucks puts on their holiday cup or what the greeters say at Walmart.  It’s true that our whole culture and American society is becoming more secular and because of that, businesses are not using religious language or symbols in their advertising because most of their customers are no longer religious. 

    Our discussion also brought up the practice of gift giving and how it became part of the Christmas celebrations.  Fortunately, we have a diverse group of young people and adults who shared their various family and cultural customs.  For example, one of our families gives gifts to each other on St. Nicholas Day (December 6) and on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6); another family of hispanic heritage used to only receive gifts on the feast of the Epiphany and not Christmas morning; one of our adults, who's spouse is from Central Europe, noted that they would receive gifts, too, on the Feast of St. Nicholas.  At its best, giving gifts on Christmas teaches charity and generosity; however, at its worse, giving gifts on Christmas leads to the sin and struggle of consumerism.  Some of our teens noted that as younger children, Christmas became all about getting gifts and seeing Santa, and was not focused on Jesus or his birth.  

    In the end, we shared what our various family traditions are on Christmas and what we enjoy most about them.  I’m very proud and happy to share that coming to Mass and being together as a family was the unanimous choice of what our group enjoy most about Christmas.  Whether it’s visiting family around the city, coming to their particular Mass on Christmas Eve or morning, staying up late to watch the Pope’s Mass, making cookies together, or whatever the tradition may be, spending time together as a family and praying together is favorite across the board.  

    So, as Advent quickly comes to a close in the next two weeks, let’s learn from our young people’s experience and focus our time and energy on what’s really important: our faith and our families.  To give a gift or two out of love and generosity is noble; however, just being present and loving each other is the best gift we can give.  Christmas may be about money and sales for corporations; however, as people of faith, we know that Christmas is about preparing to meet Jesus and build up our families of faith.  This is what the Lord wants, it’s certainly what Pope Francis wants, and we need to do this together.  Start by praying together as a family and let the Spirit work from there.  May God continue to bless you all.