By Tom O'Neill
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Members of the St. Agnes Catholic Church children's choir sing before Christmas Eve Mass. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

In traditional Christmas Eve fashion, the voices that rose the highest in song were the youngest among us.

From St. Agnes Catholic Church in Fort Wright to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Reading, children's choirs graced afternoon and early evening Masses.

The Rev. Brian Wigger of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart said the children's performance is a key part of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. And the priest's sermons Christmas Eve and this morning at 11:15 will focus on hope and the role the baby Jesus has in that search.

It is, he said, an important lesson for children.

"Christ must remain our hope," Father Wigger said. "Behind every no is a forceful yes. Mary's yes to the Holy Spirit. Joseph's yes in the dream. We must see hope."

He also would like to appeal to non-Catholics in attendance, and Catholics for whom Christmas is the only time they attend Mass. He expected that, as usual, the church would be packed.

Many local churches are closed today. Others hold not only the traditional Christmas Eve late-evening services, but also services on Christmas Day.

The Church of the Covenant in Forest Park is among local churches that don't have Christmas Day services. But Chuck Hickey, pastoral intern, was scheduled to perform Tuesday night.

"The title of the message is `Wise Men are Men of Faith,' " he said. "And, obviously, I'm talking about the Magi that visited Christ after his birth. We'll have stories interspersed with carols that relate to those passages."

Some pastors and priests said they might allude to world events, particularly the Mideast, but many others said the focus is on Christ's birth.

"I may make a comment here about current events," said Pastoral Intern Hickey. "But mostly I'll stay focused on the Scripture."

Madeira Church of God Pastor Jeff Hill said Tuesday that he, too, might allude to relevant world events - but they won't be the focus.

"God said, `Let there be light,' " Pastor Hill said Tuesday, "as his first message to Creation. And Jesus is the light."

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