The Great Christmas Music Show
Purple Catholic Saturday Post
Good morning and happy Saturday.
Every year, I produce and host a show called The Great Christmas Music Show, featuring a family-friendly, eclectic mix of Christmas music that you are unlikely to hear anywhere else on the radio.
There is a lot of dull stuff that happens in media, and this program is one of the highlights of the year because it is fun to do. In this year’s show, I’ve got artists like Sting, Matt Maher, Sufjan Stevens, McCoy Tyner, Adriano Celentano, *NSYNC, and more. Plus, I’ll have reflections on the incarnation of Christ.
So, if you’re travelling or need some different Christmas music to listen to, I encourage you to check out the two-hour program here on PurpleCatholic.com or listen on one of these great radio stations:
WIZS Radio - 1450AM / 100.1FM Henderson, NC
Christmas Eve at 1p and 7p
Christmas Day at 7a
EPIC Radio 103.5FM - Wake Forest, NC
Christmas Eve at 8a
Christmas Day at 3p
Stream EPIC Radio 103.5FM online here.
Or listen right now:
This week on UP North Catholic:
I have more thoughts on the conviction of Jimmy Lai and take a look at high-profile forgiveness. Tune in at 7pm this evening on 103.9FM in Marquette, MI or online at ClavesRegniMinistries.com.
You can also find the show on Sundays here on PurpleCatholic.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.
UP North Catholic w/ Matthew Handley
Tune into Matthew Handley’s newest program, UP North Catholic on Northern Apostle Radio or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
This Sunday at Mass we will hear from Isaiah 7:10-14, Psalm 24, Romans 1:1-7, and Matthew 1:18-24.
Here is a calendar for the rest of the week:
Tuesday, December 23 - Commemoration of St John of Kanty, priest (optional)
Thursday, December 25 - Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
Friday, December 26 - Feast of St. Steven, first martyr
Saturday, December 27 - Feast of St. John, apostle and evangelist
Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and his name shall be called Emman′u-el
Matthew 1:23
In the news:
The United States
Court blocks Michigan ban on so-called conversion therapy on free speech grounds - Detroit News
State Department set to roll out religious worker visa plan next month - Catholic News Agency
The Vatican
Pope to young people: Make peace with someone this Christmas - Vatican News
The World
Cardinal Pizzaballa visits Holy Family Parish in Gaza days before Christmas - Catholic News Agency
Church leaders condemn arson attack on top Bangladesh newspaper offices - Catholic News Agency
Pope names new archbishop of Westminster in London - Crux
Thank you, everyone, for being subscribers to the Purple Catholic, especially those of you who joined us in 2025. Know that I am praying for you, and please pray for me. If you enjoy the content in this newsletter, I would appreciate it if you could share it with your friends.
This will be the last newsletter of the year. UP North Catholic will continue to publish on its regular schedule. I’ll speak to you here after Epiphany.
Merry Christmas and have a good weekend,
Matthew