(NECN: Katelyn Tivnan) - Boston's Archbishop, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, focused on the poor and homeless during his Christmas Mass, and local Catholics say they're heading his message.
People leaving Mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston Wednesday carried a Christmas message with them.
Hundreds attending morning Mass at the cathedral came to listen to Cardinal O'Malley. Nearby at St. Francis House earlier in the day, the cardinal said his message to the congregation would focus on opening their hearts and minds.
"If we have God in our lives, then the way that we live our life, the way we treat each other, the way we forgive each other, the way we serve each other is going to be markedly different," Cardinal O'Malley says.
The cardinal spent the morning offering a blessing to the homeless at St. Francis House, calling it a meaningful way to celebrate the holiday.
"First Christmas was about a homeless family in Bethlehem and out of that homeless family came the light of the world," Cardinal O'Malley said.
"When somebody as magnificent as the cardinal comes on Christmas Day, it just combats all of that negativity that they often experience in their day to to day," Karen Lafranzia, Executive Director at St. Francis House, said.
Local
In Malden, St. Paul's Parish opened its doors to those in need at the annual Bread of Life dinner. They fed hundreds of meals to the homeless, elderly and those without loved ones thanks to the hard work of volunteers and donations.
"That's why people come out at Christmas, it's the time to be family for each other, to give, you know, because that's essentially what it's about. Not to receive," Special Project Coordinator Gabriella Snyderstelmack said.
It's a sense of compassion the cardinal hopes people will take with them on Christmas and every day moving forward.
