For many years, the Children’s Christmas Party at Holy Family has offered a fun holiday experience for local children and their families and provided toys at Christmastime to children who might otherwise have gone without. This year, the event will be held for the first time in the Notre Dame Lower Hall on Saturday, December 21st from 10AM to 1PM. We have learned that one of our main donors of toys is not able to provide us with donations this year. To ensure that we have enough toys to distribute to every child who attends the Party, we are asking the parish community for donations of new children’s toys for ages 0 to 10 years old. The toys do not need to be gift wrapped and can be placed in designated donation bins at both worship sites on Sunday, December 8th and Sunday, December 15th. In order to sort the toys and prepare them for distribution at the Party, we are asking for donations to come in by Sunday, December 15th. Thank you for any help you can give to bring Christmas joy and magic to children in our community!

The word “Hospitality” means "the warm and generous reception of others.” Hospitality is an occasion of welcome and community. Hospitality seeks to build up the Body of Christ through sharing in fellowship together. Starting Sunday, December 1st, as we enter the Season of Advent and this time of coming together in prayer and community at both worship sites, parishioners from both worship sites are invited and encouraged to serve as Greeters and Ushers before and during 10AM Mass and/or as Servers at after Mass Receptions throughout the Advent and Christmas Seasons. Please prayerfully consider being part of these efforts to extend hospitality during these Holy Seasons, on whichever Sundays and in whatever ways that you are able. As St. Paul wrote, every member of the Body of Christ has something essential to contribute. If you are able to serve in one or more of these Hospitality roles, please contact Jim Bruton at [email protected].

During Advent & Christmas season, the 9:45 AM liturgy at the Holy Family and the 10:00 AM liturgy at the Notre Dame de Chicago will come together for ONE 10:00 AM Sunday Mass. The combined 10:00 AM Mass will be held at Holy Family on December 1, 15, 29, and January 12, and at Notre Dame de Chicago on December 8, 22, January 5, and 19. All other Masses will be held at the regularly scheduled times. The combined liturgy will provide parishioners the opportunity to come together with Jesus in the celebration of the Eucharist. Transportation will be provided.

Fr. Peter is asking for volunteers to help prepare for Sunday liturgies. The three (3) committees are Communication, Hospitality, and Art/Environment & Music. Each will have specific tasks and responsibilities to ensure that our Sunday celebration our joyous and that the needs of our parishioners respectfully attended to. Kindly sign up for one of the subcommittees below by reaching out to: Communication: Mark Valentino ([email protected]); Hospitality: Jim Bruton ([email protected]); Art/Environment & Music: Fran Lamonica ([email protected])