by Sr. Ann Caput, Director of Faith Formation, St. Dismas Parish, Waukegan IL
St. Dismas Faith Formation families from Tuesday and Wednesday religious education programs hosted a “Birthday Party for Jesus” on Tuesday, December 13th as their final gathering before Christmas. The evening began around the Jesse or Family Tree of Jesus, completing symbols such as the scroll for the prophets, the shell for John the Baptist, the carpenter’s rule for St. Joseph, and the lily for Mary.
Then, families gathered in the parish hall moving from a short film on Jesus’ birth to making paper cupcakes for Jesus for one of the Advent trees in Church, and wrapping tissue boxes for the residents at St. Joseph Home in Palatine as their gifts for Jesus. Of course, what would a birthday party be without a birthday cake? Yum! Punch and cake for all!
Families then processed into Church to the song “Little Drummer Boy” bearing their wrapped gifts for the coming infant Savior at the crèche with Mary, Joseph, and empty manger. Sr. Mary Diane, LSP and Sr. Mary William, LSP were there to receive the little gifts to Jesus on behalf of their elderly. The evening concluded with each family putting their cupcake ornament on one of the four Advent parish trees in Church.
A Birthday Party for Jesus