Will Trimble is a Texan serving in Afghanistan on his first tour of duty in that war zone, though he served two before in Iraq. Christi Trimble, 28, is from West Deptford. She and 21-month-old Zakk now live at Fort Lewis in Washington state.
The Trimbles are bound to St. Andrew the Apostle in two ways - the pastor, Msgr. Louis A. Marucci, married them three years ago, and he also baptized Zakk.
So it wasn't surprising that the soldier, who arrived in Afghanistan around the beginning of fall and who is set to return in the spring, and his pastor routinely had e-mail conversations. Trimble told Marucci his small base had no religious materials and no plans for Christmas services. He asked the priest to send Bibles and other books.
But this is the season of greater gifts, and Marucci decided to try for something more. NBC10 enthusiastically agreed to send cameras to the service and show it live over its website and its Nonstop channel. St. Andrew the Apostle got permission from the Catholic Church to hold a special Mass at 2 p.m. Saturday, which was 11:30 p.m. Afghanistan time.
By 2 p.m. in Gibbsboro, the church, with a capacity of about 700 people, was full, and it was clear this was no ordinary service. Four lights on tall poles bathed parishioners in bright television lights.
Just before the service began, Kenny Ilg, musical director for the Christmas Mass, prepped parishioners.
"We're doing a prerecorded greeting outside," Ilg announced. The cameramen would cue him, which also was the cue for the Mass to begin. A priest walked by a camera and smiled into it.
