Editor's Note   Just a little word play   By Darcy L. Fargo

December 24, 2025

“The priest is hiding Jesus from the people.”

That sounds bad, I know. That’s why I said it that way.

I said that sentence as part of a discussion about the new nativity scene at Notre Dame Church, part of St. André Bessette Parish in Malone (see the story here). I was explaining to a friend that Father Scott Seymour, pastor of that parish, had shown the statue of Jesus, part of that nativity set, to only one other person at that point.

Father Scott wanted to build anticipation and a sense of longing for Christ, that same anticipation and longing that we lean into throughout Advent.

He was literally hiding Jesus from the people, but he was hiding the statue of Jesus as part of bringing Jesus to the people.

So, my sentence was completely true, but it was also meant to sound like something weird was happening.
I adore sentences like that!

They bring me great joy when I deliver them to others, and they give me great joy when others deliver them to me.

I’m a word nerd, and I find word play like puns or double meanings to be exceptionally funny!

In this time of year when so much of our focus turns to gifts, I’m again reminded of what a gift it is to regularly find so much joy in my work and so much joy talking with the people of the Lord.

As we celebrate the birth of Christ, the greatest gift of all, I’ll also be thanking God for another great gift – you, the readers of the North Country Catholic.

All of us here – reporters, columnists, photographers and staff – are grateful for your support, your words of encouragement, your kind words of correction or criticism on occasion, and, most importantly, your prayers.

You remain in our prayers, as well, and we wish you and your loved ones a very merry and blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!

There’s no more hiding Jesus!