For many, Christmas brings families together and evokes feelings of happiness. For families living in poverty, Christmas can be a season of want, rather than a season of joy. To help these families, the Catholic Charities office in Goldsboro held a Christmas Party on Tuesday, December 16th, for families who they had worked with in recent months.
The festivities began with Very Reverend James F. Garneau, V.F., Dean for the Newton Grove Deanery, leading an opening prayer. Wanda Collazo, Newton Grove Regional Director, then expressed a warm welcome to all guests. The St. Mary fifth grade school choir performed several Advent and Christmas carols for those in attendance. Families were able to share in a meal that was generously donated by the Pizza Inn of Goldsboro. Following lunch, several members of the St. Mary youth ministry helped distribute gifts to the families. Twenty-two families received clothing and gift cards from Catholic Charities through the generosity of an anonymous donor.
While many families are able to receive donated gifts during the Christmas season, not all families are able to experience a Christmas party. On Tuesday, in addition to the tangible gifts these families received, all in attendance experienced the joy of a Christmas party with a supportive community. Families sang and danced to Christmas carols and shared in a meal together as one group, as we are called to do as Catholics.
