By Father Gerald Peterson

"Could we each share our most memorable Christmas of the past?" was the question posed by a Baptist minister in a December Ministerial Association meeting. I found the question a most interesting one. Since our thoughts are on Christmas at this time, I'd like to share with you my answer.

My most memorable Christmas goes back to my first after ordination as a Glenmary Home Missioner in 1956. I was assigned as assistant to Father Frank Wuest in the Coal mining town of Appalachia, VA. My main responsibility was to serve the few scattered Catholic families in the missions of Keokee and Pennington Gap, VA.

Keokee was only one mountain from the Kentucky border, a small coal mining camp of 100 homes. To get there from Appalachia, I had to drive 15 miles of the most narrow and winding road I've ever traveled.

Fifteen families were associated with our small Catholic chapel. On a good Sunday, I'd have 30 people in the 12-foot by 24-foot chapel, the front two rooms of a camp house purchased by the Church a few years before I arrived.

The Keokee folks had never had a Christmas Midnight Mass. The pastor gave me permission to try it, thinking many of the Protestants and unchurched of the community might come.

I prepared with great enthusiasm, having visions of our little chapel crowded to overflowing. Invitations were printed up. I personally visited every one of the 100 homes in the area of Keokee. Many of the people politely told me: "I've never been to a Catholic Mass, but maybe I'd like to come for Christmas."

I left Appalachia about 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve to drive to Keokee. As I arrived in the town, there were a few snow flurries in the air. Snow continued to fall gently for the next half-hour, but it didn't seem to be sticking to the highway. So I thought, "That's no problem; the people will soon be filling this little chapel to overflowing."

I had set up a turntable with loudspeakers outside the chapel. About 11:40 p.m. I began playing Christmas carols, thinking many of the people lived close enough to be able to hear the music in their homes.

It kept getting closer to midnight and no one had arrived. I turned up the volume of "O Come, All Ye Faithful," but the "faithful" weren't coming!

As the clock struck 12:00, into the chapel decorated for midnight Mass and candle lit walked one parishioner, Deward Duff. I vested and Midnight Mass of Christmas began. The volume of the hymn was not as loud as I had hoped, but we began Mass singing "Silent Night, Holy Night." I preached my Christmas to the audience of one. We shared the Good News and gave thanks in the Eucharist for the birth of our Savior.

By now, you've guessed my answer to the question posed by the Baptist minister. Yes, my most memorable Christmas was my Midnight Mass with one parishioner.

To all the readers of The Georgia Bulletin, I wish a "Most Blessed and Peace-filled Christmas." On Christmas Day in your family celebration, you might like to share your answers to the question: "Could we share our most memorable Christmas of the past?"