Awoke, finished my library book, got ready for Christmas Eve---responded to a Christmas email from GvK and N, looked up times for the Christmas Eve Mass, and sent a reminder to a friend not to forget Joseph in the whole maelstrom of Christmas celebrations:

After brunch D and I went downtown to run an errand, then behind campus to get greeting cards at the drugstore in North Oakland. 

I crossed the shortcut to retrieve my mail and tend to some things. Also used the computer to send some email holiday greetings.

We had some homemade stew dishes (a nilaga-like dish and a kare kare-like dish) from k and K for dinner. Enjoyed some of their cookies, too!

Worked especially on my online language classes.

Sent some last-minute Christmas and Holiday Greetings to some folks near and dear to my heart.

Watched/participated in the 22.00 Mass with D and M. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop David Zubik, celebrated with Fr Kris Stubna, et al. We were content to attend televised Mass because of the information posted on the website:

 

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from   https://ghocatholics.org/news/christmas-eve-and-christmas-day-masses

• If you are elderly, have any underlying conditions, or are in the high-risk category, please stay home. Do not come to Mass.
• If you have any illness, are sick, or not feeling well, please do not come to Mass. You are a danger to many others.
• Remember that the obligation to attend Mass has been lifted by the bishops in our state and country for very good reasons. The 10:00 pm Mass on Christmas Eve and the 10:00 am Mass on Christmas Day will be cablecast on Comcast channel 95 in the City of Pittsburgh, livestreamed, and on Facebook in addition to being available through Comcast on Demand at a later time.
• The whole Octave of Christmas - 8 days from Christmas Eve - is actually Christmas Day and every Mass is celebrated as the Christmas Mass. Perhaps some people may choose to attend Mass some day during the Octave where there most likely will be fewer people attending. Consider coming on the Feast of St. Stephen on December 26, or the Feast of the Holy Family on Sunday, December 27, or any of the Octave days. There may be fewer people attending and it would be safer.
• We never discourage people from coming to Mass, but this year is different. Please help us to be sure that you remain safe, and that we protect the safety of others as best we can.

Masks are required for anyone who desires to enter our worship sites and must be worn throughout the service. Masks are not option; they are mandatory if you wish to enter to pray or to attend Mass. Those who do not wear masks will be asked to leave. There can be no exceptions made to this regulation. Safe distancing is required at all times. Please be attentive to these requirements.

Cleaners and sanitizers are needed for Christmas Masses. In order for us to have Mass we need to be able to clean and to sanitize between every Mass....

 

Additional key individuals mentioned during/at the end of Mass included: 

Deacon Kevin Lander, Director of Operations

Deacon Tom Berna, Cathedral Parish Deacon

Erica Gamerro, Episcopal Master of Ceremonies

Carol DiClaudio, Lector 1

Peter Blume, Lector 2

Tony Accettulla, Michael Anania and Team, Communications/Broadcast

Don Fellows, Director of Music

Ken Danchik, Cathedral Associate Organist

Linda Ortenzo, Cantor

Marianne Cornetti, Guest Soloist

The Mass was simply lovely. For Bishop Zubik's homily, he asked us to focus not just on the Christ child and Mary, but also on Saint Joseph, who was experiencing a host of mixed emotions on the way to Bethlehem, which were all cast aside when Jesus was born. "Do what he (Joseph) did," the Bishop urges, "(He found) security and peace in Jesus." He mentioned the Gospel of  St. Matthew: "I will be with you always (to the ends of the Earth; meaning, of course, 'Emmanuel, God is with us')." Bishop Zubik stated near the end of his homily: "The birth of Christ is happening,...He wants to be (known/born) to us today."

Marianne Cornetti sang as a soloist again this year, this time unaccompanied by us choristers, and she was simply magnificent, easily and majestically filling the Cathedral space with her dulcet tones.

Then, it was time for post-Midnight/ Late Night Mass snacks and Opening of the Presents. Light snacks consisted of a shrimp ring with cocktail sauce, sharp cheese and crackers, and sparkling grape juice. D took a photo of me with a gift from each family grouping/pod. 

It will be nice to sleep in...

Woke up early, before 08.00. Listened to WQED FM- Jim Cunningham and Rick Sebak's show with songs sung by stars, some with local connections such as Perry Como, the PITT Men's Glee Club, Bobby Vinton, and Dean Martin. Caught up on blogging here. Meanwhile, J O scheduled the family Christmas Zoom meeting for today. Chat with Maureen by phone. Had sourdough egg sandwich for breakfast. Watched vignettes of the Ed Sullivan Show, hosted by Bob Newhart. More Christmas greetings. A reschedule of the family Christmas Zoom meeting was made by J O. Added (oomphed up) the scent of both the homemade wreath by k and BW, and the knitted model of COVID virus. We hung up the model of COVID-19 (as mistletoe, by the entryway). Caught up with communications! 

This afternoon, M and I are thawing the shrimp while we catch up on electronic communications and napping. At 18.00 we held a family Zoom meeting with Lo/a, J O, GJ, and A the dog; WA, MM, BF, and SC; k and K and I the dog; and WR/US. Lo/a napped for the first hour or so of the Zoom meeting, and then we chatted and played Jackbox games---what fun! The meeting lasted until ~ 22.15 or so. Great fun was had by all.

Day-after-Christmas Day. St. Stephen's Day. As they call it across the pond, Boxing Day. Up by 09.00. Started with early emails to family and friends. Pay a bill. Late brunch. Retrieved my mail, took care of some vitamins. Heated up dinner care of k and K. Bulalo and a version of kare kare. Started a book by Foer---Moonwalking with Einstein : the art and science of remembering everything. Munched on some peanut M&Ms whilst reading the book. Uploaded an electronic library book onto M's tablet. 

Missed the Christmas Star 2020/rare conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn during Christmas week, due to cloudy/precipitation-filled skies. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/christmas-star-will-be-closest-visible-conjunction-jupiter-saturn-800-n1250418

Worked on Zoom preparations for a presentation. Emailed EPRW across the miles regarding an e-card, and included a newsletter. Did some language learning online lessons. Will skip the 10.00 Mass and will watch the noon Mass today (with D and M).

Before noon Mass I started a loaf of quick bread at home. After the noon Mass televised from St. Mary at the Point, I made tacos with soft flour tortillas. I picked up the bread after lunch. Took a nap, and then blogged. Worked on the presentation more. Learned more language online. Acted as sous chef to prepare dinner---then ate dinner with D and M. More language learning. Helped D sign up for online language lessons online, as well. 

Did some online language lessons. Inquired about coupons for 2021 from JS, then called RJ. Was told to wait; do not send anything yet. Also planned for telephone updates. Contacted a friend re: doing a gift hand-off this year. Planned for yearly exams for 2021. Watched what turned out to be one in a continuation of "The best of Alex Trebek" Jeopardy! episodes. More online language lessons. Prepared the reading sheets for Bible Study for D, M, and me (Solemnity of Mary).

Started off the day with a listen to WQED FM's BBC News. Did some online language lessons. Paid the bulk of my end-of-/beginning-of-the-month bills. Telephoned with M for insurance issues. Watched Jeopardy! after dinner. More online language lessons. Jeopardy! of course after dinner. Did some online language classes. Planned my next groceries outing. Bought a functional outer layer. 

Started off the day with WQED FM's BBC News. Did some online language lessons. Set up D and I for Bible Study--We read the readings for Epiphany. Shining, charming God's grace. We also watched a video about the astronomy regarding the Christmas Star.  We also discussed the issue of the Holy Innocents. Quite the meeting. After, shared with M that she received an additional telephone call for insurance issues---we unraveled these issues, and they should be resolved, thanks to K close to the company headquarters. 

After lunch, I ran an errand across the street for M, and picked up some books at the library. Also dropped off one, which I finished early. Helped M with a new delivery; room was made in the freezer and refrigerator. I brought some vegetables to my freezer. We had dinner, watched Jeopardy!, then I did some online language lessons. Read some online. Too tired to read some more of a print book.

 

No 08.00 BBC News Snippet today. Did some online language lessons. Caught up with some videos and some e-correspondences. After breakfast, rescheduled a meet-up with a friend for next week. Made the filling of sweet potato pie from scratch, baking it with an unrolled crust. D and I went to get the main course for dinner. D, M, and I partook of a dinner of appetizers, unagi poke bowls, and sparkling drinks, M and I enjoyed a piece of pie each while watching Jeopardy! I was troubleshooting a problem which M and I noted---perhaps the evaporated milk?....before catching up on various electronic things and paperwork before the New Year's Eve celebrations. Tomorrow will be the last day of the Christmas Octave.