Fr. Chris Alar tells how the Christmas Tree and its elements came about.See the Christmas party at the Association of Marian Helpers at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy.

Fr. Chris Alar explains how we got the traditions of the Christmas tree, candles in windows, tinsel, the 12 days of Christmas, and more.

In today’s homily, Fr. Tyler Mentzer, MIC, reflects on the genealogy that opens the Gospel of Matthew — a passage we often rush past, yet one filled with profound hope. “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Mt 1:1; NABRE) is not merely a list of names. It is the story of salvation unfolding through real people, real families, and real brokenness.