CHRISTMAS IN IRAQ

Instead of collecting toys for children this year, the Social Committee at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas has opted to collect gifts to send to American military personnel serving in Iraq this Christmas. Donations can be dropped off at the cathedral office.

PAINTING A

STEEPLE CROSS

Few parishioners ofOur Lady ofMt. Carmel Church on St. John would be as brave as "Smiley" Doway to paint

the cross in the church steeple.

ADVENT MISSIONS

Fr. John Mark, Parochial Vicar at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St.

Thomas, will lead an Advent Mission entitled "The Reason for the Season!" at Holy Cross Church on St. Croix on December 3-7 at 7:00 p.m. The mission includes prayer, song, praise, sermons, benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Confession

Marina Salas of the Cursillo Movement in Puerto Rico will lead an Advent Triduum in Spanish at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix on December 4-6 at 7:00 p.m.

Fr. Mark Mary Cristina, MFVA, of EWTN's Life on the Rock, will celebrate Sunday Mass and lead an Advent Mission at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas. He will celebrate all the English Masses on December 9-10 and then lead the mission on December 11-13 at 6:30 p.m. The theme is "Jesus is the Reason for the Season."

Bishop George Murry will lead an Advent Mission at Our Lady of Mt.

Carmel Church on St. John on December 12-14 at 7:00 p.m.

Fr. John Mark will lead an Advent Mission for the Hispanic community of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas by celebrating Mass in Spanish in the homes of parishioners December 16-24 at 7:00 p.m.

WOMEN'S RETREAT

Fr. Simon Peter Opira, Chaplain at Light of Christ Retreat Center on St.

Croix, will lead a retreat for women sponsored by Magnificat at the retreat center on December 1-3. The theme is "You Turned Aside from Your Early Love" (Rv 2:4). Tickets are $60, and includes a room and all meals.

SOUP KITCHEN VOLUNTEERS

St. Thomas Rotarians marked the first anniversary of preparing and serving lunch on Saturdays at the Bethlehem House Shelter on St. Thomas on November 10. The meal is provided to soup kitchen guests as well as shelter residents. Alistair Patterson, the district governor of Rotary, was in attendance. Mr. Patterson also visited the Bethlehem House soup kitchen on St. Croix on October 20. Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands operates both soup kitchens.

THE CATHOUC ISLANDER      *DECEMBER 2006 *      4