SALISBURY TWP., Pa. – Around the world, it’s typical for millions to gather in churches on Christmas.
And Christmas Day was no different at Saint Thomas More in Salisbury Township.
“It was wonderful to see how many people came, both last night and this morning,” Monsignor Andrew Baker, the pastor at Saint Thomas More Church, said.
Many say it’s a church known for its beauty. Some joined for the first time, like Sameel and Jonita Dabre, who just moved to Breinigsville from Massachusetts with their two children.
“We just googled about the church, the beauty of the church is mesmerizing,” Jonita said.
“It’s awesome,” Sameel added.
Others are longtime loyals, like Colleen Danni and her family from Salisbury Township.
“We’ve been parishioners for roughly 12 years now,” she said.
“I was really pleasantly surprised to see how many people came,” Monsignor Baker said, “and how many people are in need of Jesus and to celebrate his birth.”
This was Baker’s first Christmas mass as pastor at Saint Thomas More.
“It’s really our Lord being born is the reason for the season, as I said in my homily,” he said.
During his sermon, he made sure there was at least one difference in his delivery.
Baker chose to move the manger scene to the center of the church. He addressed it during his sermon, and also explained it to 69 News afterward.
“It was a little bit closer to what they call the canter’s lectern over to the right,” Baker said. “But I decided, I think the center would be very, very important to have people realize that not only is Jesus the reason for the season. But also he needs to be the center of our lives.”
Meanwhile, on the global scale, the new pope also delivered his very first Christmas mass as pontiff.
Pope Leo XIV in his address, called for peace in Gaza and for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
“How then can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold,” he said. “Of those so many others, refugees and displaced persons on every continent?”
Back in Salisbury Township, the pastor echoed the pope’s prayers for peace.
“Pope Leo has been speaking a lot about is peace, peace in this world,” Baker said. “We need peace in this country. We need peace in the world as a whole.”
The pastor asked not to be compared to the pope.
“He’s a little higher than I am,” Baker said with a laugh.
But 69 News did ask him to weigh in on both spiritual leaders sharing their first Christmas masses in their new, respective positions.
“It’s so wonderful to know there’s an American,” Baker said. “Someone from our own country and can understand also what the challenges are of our country. And is able in some way to express that.”