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A mass of Masses Photo by Bob Pennell The Rev. Liam Cary, left, and the Rev. William Dillard prepare for Mass Saturday in the sacristy of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The two priests -- with the help of a retired colleague -- will celebrate 15 Masses by the time this Christmas weekend is over. 15 ceremonies in three days at Sacred Heart By KATHY MORGAN Christmas 1999 didn't get off to a perfect start at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The Virgin Mary's plane couldn't land because of the fog. Two Josephs awaited her arrival. There were seven kings instead of the traditional three. The priest was delayed because of a funeral. And baby Jesus -- a no-show -- ended up being played by a leather coat. It was an unusual Nativity scene -- which made the rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Children's Mass seem like a cruel joke played by the Ghost of Christmas Present. But nobody said "Bah, humbug." "Every year, something strange happens at the rehearsals," said Connie Moyer, director of religious education at the Medford church. "But then come Christmas Eve, everything is fine." Her words proved prophetic. It's Dec. 24, and the children are gathered in the church. Those playing angels look angelic. The shepherds watch over the scene. The Virgin Mary has landed and holds a sleeping baby Jesus on her lap. As beaming parents watch, everything goes like clockwork. And that's a good thing -- especially this year. With Christmas falling on a Saturday, the priests of the parish have a multitude of Masses to celebrate. Fifteen, to be exact. There are five of them Christmas Eve in two languages and two towns -- one Spanish Mass and a service in Jacksonville. Two of them are at midnight, one in the church and one in the parish hall. On Saturday, add three Christmas Masses and a Sunday vigil Mass. They will be followed this morning by six regular Sunday Masses. Add them up and you get a lot of church time. The Rev. Liam Cary, left, and the Rev. William Dillard are nearing the end of a long Christmas weekend. "This is as bad as it gets," says the Rev. Liam Cary, pastor. He and the Rev. William Dillard, associate pastor, are in charge of the spiritual lives of the 2,155 registered households at the parish and the estimated 200 unregistered Catholics. The two always oversee a sea of activity, but at Christmas that activity jumps to mammoth proportions. During the children's Mass and midnight Mass the church is overflowing with people. "It's standing room only," says Myron Hollen, usher at the 5 p.m. service. "The church seats about 500 and about 600 people show up. We get them all in." Extra people mean extra services, but this year Cary and Dillard don't have to carry the total burden. The Rev. Carmelo Mifsud, a retired priest from the Archdiocese of Oakland, is helping out. He'll do three of the Masses. "He's a godsend," says Dillard. But even with an added Roman collar, the load is heavy for the resident priests. There are homilies to write. And it isn't as if one sermon covers each Christmas Mass. The children's Mass requires a lighter touch than the solemn midnight service. Then there are the Spanish Masses. "Nobody says it would be easy being a priest," Cary says. "But I wouldn't do anything else." But he admits to being a bit nervous, especially when it comes to preaching. "This is where I feel a lot of pressure," he says. "The words need to reach out and welcome people. Many of the people haven't been to church all year, and this is a time to touch them." Celebrating Mass isn't the only duty the local Catholic spiritual leaders have to complete. Not by a long shot. This week there were nine funerals to perform. "There are always funerals," Cary says. "This is a bit unusual, but what can you do?" Cary and Dillard also put in extra time during the season of Advent hearing confessions. They're in the confessional from noon to 1 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. every day until Christmas Eve. Funerals, rehearsals, confessions, Masses. Details, details and more details. Yet nobody is complaining. "Confession is where people come to terms with their lives and make a commitment to change," Cary says. "And sacraments are what we're all about." But not exclusively. The priests also must oversee the mechanics of having so many services. They need altar servers -- a total of about 24 help out at the Christmas Masses. Eucharistic ministers, folks who distribute Communion, number 47 this Christmas. And don't forget the music. Folk groups, traditional choirs and Spanish choirs are ready to sing in the season. "Staffers and volunteers really help out," Moyer says. "It's quite a balancing act scheduling all these people. But the priests definitely have the biggest burden." Yet both priests say it isn't a burden. It's a blessing. It's midnight Christmas Eve. The familiar words of "Silent Night" fill the sanctuary. Clouds of incense smoke settle against the glowing candles, giving the church a Norman Rockwell Christmas feel. "Christmas is not found in a present under a tree," says Dillard as he preaches the word of God, weaving morsels from "National Lampoon's Christmas" into the gospel tale. "The real gift of Christmas is the love we give to one another -- not the stress and preparation we put into it." "His words made Christmas for me," says Linda Spencer, a visitor to the church. "That's what it's all about. This is Christmas." But Christmas isn't over, yet. Not for the priests. More Masses follow. So many that the pews never lose the warmth from the bodies gathered to worship in seemingly never-ending prayer. But at 2:15 p.m. Christmas Day it finally stops. The closing prayers have been spoken, the last candle blown out. And everything went without a major glitch. "There's a lot of satisfaction, a lot of joy." Cary says. "I may just go home and collapse." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA