It is finally here, Christmas! That time of the year where everyone is aglow with the joy of the season. I thought I didn’t really feel the Christmas spirit for work was really crazy in the days that were running up to Christmas. Afterall who would be in the mood when everyone seems to want to finish everything within the year? As I usually do, I try to attend Christmas Eve Mass wherever I happen to be. In Singapore, I decided to attend the Christmas Eve Mass at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
Based on my experience the previous year at a different church, it was jam packed and this year is no different, though definitely more space than the other one. The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd is not that big either. In fact apparently size has nothing to do with gaining the status of Cathedral. The structure is still hold up since 1832. Probably one of the older buildings in Singapore and the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore.
This year’s Christmas Eve Mass is celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Francis Lau, whose sermons I always found interesting and since he speaks with impeccable English so he is easily understood. The church as expected is already filled up so I was to content myself standing on the wings near the side entrance. Unfortunately for the people behind, there were so many people standing on the aisle that they were already blocking the view of the ones who managed to get seats. But no one is complaining. It is Christmas afterall.
Unlike a previous time where I attended Christmas Eve mass here, the choir is in full force and as expected, they sounded great. Their leader seems to be a stickler for the traditional songs that some of the songs used in the Mass were in Latin. Which wasn’t wrong, it was just that I couldn’t sing along with them. So there were nothing to do but listen to their great rendition of these songs. The Mass was peppered with Christmas songs like O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night, O Holy Night and of course Joy to the World. The singing made me get back that Christmas spirit I have sorely been lacking these days.
I did not find Christmas in the the beautiful lights of Orchard Road (more on the later), but I found Christmas here in the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd while celebrating the birth of a mere child who is the saviour of the world.
Have a Blessed and Meaningful Christmas!
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