Prior to this year we had only one nativity set and we would need to carry it from the site for the evening mass to the other site for the morning mass. This year we asked a sacristan traveling to Vietnam to buy another set. We were hoping for something a little less European and white-skinned but this was all we could get. It will do until we find something more representative of the population here. We didn't open this new set until we were setting it up, and then we found that there were ten pieces but no shepherd, sheep, or manger for the Christ child figure—a bit unusual.

 Fr. Ashley Evans, an Irish Jesuit, was the priest presider this evening. Here he is checking the sacramentary to make sure the ribbons are on the right pages. Most of the English-speaking world started using the new Roman Missal four weeks ago, but we are delaying introducing the new missal until mid-January.

 Fifteen minutes before mass started, the altar area still looked a little bare, but in just a short time, many families arrived carrying beautiful arrangements of flowers, and there was plenteous decoration when Fr. Ashley processed into the church.

 After mass it was pleasing to see so many people staying and talking and bringing their children to the altar to view the crib and the figures.

 Meden Tan is one of the guitarists with the music group and choir, Sami Scott plays the flute with the group, and Len Montiel is one of our "regulars."