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WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush signed a law Jan. 11 that lets him grant diplomatic privileges and immunities to the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations. The Holy See is not a member of the United Nations, but its permanent observer status, held since 1964, entitles it to participate in General Assembly debates, have its communications issued and circulated as official documents of the assembly, and co-sponsor draft resolutions and decisions that refer to the Holy See.

People interested in becoming a resident at Catholic Charities Senior Housing in Abingdon are being asked to add their names to a list for prospective tenants at the new apartment building. The 76 rent-assisted senior apartment units are expected to be ready to occupy in April and Catholic Charities will send out applications to all people on the list in early 2007.

YORK, Pa. (CNS) – Students and faculty members at York Catholic High School now have a vivid reminder of the heroism of firefighters who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City through an American flag with an image of the New York City skyline displayed at the entrance to their school auditorium.

DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS) – Catholic churches in Ireland are appealing for information about the location of nine Catholics murdered between 1972 and 1985 and whose bodies were buried in secret. Priests in the Archdiocese of Armagh, Northern Ireland, issued the appeal at Masses the first weekend in January. Other Catholic churches in the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland were to continue the appeal in January and planned to place posters in church lobbies and notices in parish bulletins and newsletters.

This letter is in response to Charles Schutz letter (CR Jan. 04) titled “‘X-mas’ is offensive”. During this past season of Advent a friend had given me a book of reflections entitled , “The Little Blue Book, Advent and Christmas Seasons 2006-2007” based upon the writings of Bishop Ken Untener, Diocese of Saginaw. In that I read, ‘X-mas’ – It is sometimes thought that the abbreviation “X-mas” is disrespectful. It takes Christ out of Christmas.

St. Sylvester I became pope in 314. He led the church during the time of Constantine the Great. He sent legates (people appointed as the pope’s personal representatives) to the First Council of Nicaea. Constantine was generous to the church, and St. Sylvester was able to build some of the great churches in Rome, including St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Paul’s and what became known as St. John Lateran. St. Sylvester I died in 335.

St. Thomas Becket was born in London in 1118. He served as archdeacon of Canterbury and chancellor of England. He was ordained in 1162 and became archbishop of Canterbury. This saint resisted the king’s interference in church matters. He was martyred in 1170. St. Thomas Becket is patron saint of the clergy.

St. John the Evangelist, the brother of St. James the Great, was a fisherman. Jesus called John to follow him, and John became “the beloved disciple.” He was at the Last Supper and stood at the foot of the cross during Jesus’ passion. He wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles and possibly the Book of Revelation. He died circa 101. St. John the Evangelist is patron saint of authors, booksellers, editors, printers, writers and theologians.

St. Stephen the Martyr was a preacher and deacon who became the first Christian martyr. He is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. He was preaching the Gospel outdoors when an angry mob stoned him to death circa the year 33. St. Stephen is patron saint of deacons, headaches, horses and masons.

Today is the feast of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), a holy day of obligation. This feast celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Merry Christmas!

St. Philogonius of Antioch was a lawyer and widower. This patriarch of Antioch was vocally opposed to Arianism. He died in 324.