From staff and wire reports
With most of the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic removed, Pope Francis is scheduled to return to a full slate of public liturgies for Christmas and into January.
• On Dec. 24 at 7:30 p.m., the pope will celebrate the Mass of the Nativity of the Lord in Rome. While the Mass is commonly referred to as “midnight Mass,” the Vatican celebration gradually has been moved earlier to make it easier for people to attend. Listeners can tune in on Domestic Church Media, the Ewing-based, nonprofit Catholic Lay Apostolate, at 1:30 p.m. EST. It also can be watched on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) at 1:30 p.m., with an encore at 4 a.m. EST Dec. 25.
• At noon Dec. 25, the pope will give his traditional Christmas blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. Both Domestic Church Media and EWTN will broadcast the blessing live at 6 a.m. EST. EWTN will offer encores at 3 and 10 p.m. the same day, with a third showing at 3 p.m. EST Dec. 31.
Check EWTN.com and domesticchurchmedia.org for airings of these services:
• At 5 p.m. Dec. 31, Pope Francis will preside over an evening prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica for the feast of Mary, Mother of God. Vespers will be followed by Eucharistic Adoration, benediction and the singing of the “Te Deum” to thank God for the year that is ending.
• At 10 a.m. Jan. 1, he will celebrate Mass for the feast of Mary, Mother of God, in St. Peter’s Basilica.
• At 10 a.m. Jan. 6, he will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for the feast of the Epiphany.
• At 9:30 a.m. Jan. 8, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, he will celebrate Mass in the Sistine Chapel and will baptize infants.
Domestic Church Media can be heard on WGYM 1580 AM in Hammonton, WSMJ 91.9 FM in Cape May, WFJS 1260 AM in Trenton and WFJS 89.3 FM in Freehold – as well as online, via app, social media and its own TV channel.
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