The Rotary Club of Ville Platte today (Tuesday) heard from Fr. Tom Voorhies, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  Fr. Tom spoke on the Christmas holiday season. December 6, the date of the rotary meeting, coincides with the Feast of St. Nicholas, who was the inspiration for the present day Santa Claus. He was a bishop in the 3^rd century AD in Turkey. Legend has it that St. Nicholas had secretly donated three bags of money for the dowry of three poor daughters of a family which began the tradition of gift giving.

    Fr. Voorhies says the church celebrated Easter as the first and most important holiday and some 200 y ears later, began celebrating his birth. In the 12^th century AD, St. Francis of Assisi began displaying a live manger scene.

    In the scriptures, Matthew focused on the Christmas story from a Joseph’s perspective while Luke concentrated on Mary’s story.

    Rotary club members were reminded that there will be no noon meeting next Tuesday since there will be a Christmas social event at Cazan Lodge Tuesday night at 6:00pm.