Did you know that Christmas is actually one of the best times of the year to meet other singles? There are quite a few unique opportunities only available during the holiday season. So instead of dreading spending Christmas alone (*gasp in false horror*), turn your focus to meeting new people!
Attend ALL the Christmas Masses!
This is one of the few days of the year where people flock to Mass. And Christmas is celebrated with four Masses! Yes, FOUR: Christmas Vigil Mass (aka Christmas Eve Mass), Christmas Night Mass (aka Midnight Mass), and Christmas Dawn Mass, and Christmas Day Mass. Though Catholics are obligated to attend only one of their choice, we are certainly free to attend all of them if we wish. Whether you’re the traveler or the homebody, this is a great opportunity to meet new people. Attend all four Masses, and see if there’s anyone you haven’t seen before. Then go introduce yourself, because you don’t want to wait until next Christmas to trade phone numbers!
Don’t neglect the Confession line
As a season of penance and preparation, advent is one of the popular times of year to attend Confession. And where else to find dedicated Catholics other than the Confessional queue? For example, my local cathedral boasts lines as long as the church itself, and they have to bring in two extra priests to make sure everyone gets a turn. What a witness to Faith, and what an oft-neglected opportunity to mingle! Take advantage of the season and attend a few extra Confession opportunities. Don’t be afraid to dawdle a few extra minutes in the lobby or hall afterwards to get a chance to introduce yourself to others exiting the church. It is most important to be seeking the sacrament for the sake of receiving graces and forgiveness, but meeting someone new would be a fun bonus!
Meet the elderly in your community
If your local parishes are anything like mine, there’s a tiny selection of young singles but a huge crowd of senior citizens. Don’t brush them aside! Not only do people from previous generations make great holly-jolly company, they are well-connected. You’d be surprised how many seniors have sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews who are single. Start chumming around with the elderly, and ask them if they know anybody who’s looking to meet someone! Sometimes, it’s who you know, not what you do, that gets you a great blind date.
Change up your usual Mass location
Maybe try Latin Mass if you haven’t been, or return to Novus Ordo for a bit, or a Byzantine Mass, an FSSP service, whatever! Just change it up and get out of your location comfort zone. Much like attending as many Masses as possible, going to new churches will quite literally open the door to some new communities. It’s also great to ask your online Catholic Match connections where they’d recommend going for Christmas Mass. Lots of people know some beautiful celebrations you’ve never heard of, and who knows, maybe someone would want to meet you there.
Volunteer for the poor
If you are hoping to give more than receive this Christmas season, there’s nothing better than volunteering. Toy drives, soup kitchens, stocking stuffing, and Santa setups are always looking for help. Dust off your inner child and be the extra elf helping kids drop off their Santa letters. Don that apron and a smile to ladle soup. a) It will dust off your charity skills, and b) it can grow your network of Catholics. Introduce yourself to some fellow volunteers, and start getting to know them a bit. Don’t despair if you’re the only single. Growing your network doesn't have to be just meeting other unattached Catholics. As stated earlier, a mutual connection can lead to a good date!
Remember the Assumption Of Mary on January 1st!
You can always meet serious and practicing Catholics at a Mass on a Holy Day Of Obligation. When you attend Mass that day, don’t be afraid to attend a second time in a different location. I repeat myself: go to new places at new times and find new people.
And, of course, check out the new members on CatholicMatch!
Christmas and the new year are very popular times for people to join (or rejoin) online dating. Scroll through the new members section, and offer some Christmas cheer to the fresh faces! You could also challenge yourself to get a bit outside of your comfort zone: send holiday greetings to people a little farther away or those who are not-your-usual-type. You never know with whom you’ll hit it off!
Most of these ideas boil down to one thing: show up to stuff. Whether it’s Mass, Confession, events, parties, or the online world, simply being present is the first step toward mingling well. Christmas offers wonderful opportunities to celebrate our faith with so many people–take advantage of it!
