As we enter Advent, the beautiful, peaceful time that prepares us for the birth of Jesus, former Academy Principal Marcia (Baronovic ’72, 8th) Renken shares the significance of one of our most beloved and long-standing Sacred Heart traditions, Christmas Baskets. Mrs. Renken now works part-time in Alumni Relations and fondly recalls how a family tradition born at the Academy when she was a young student is still alive and a meaningful part of her family’s lives.
The Christmas season is upon us. This week’s frigid temperatures allow us to appreciate our heated homes, warm meals, blanketed beds, and comfortable transportation as we drive carpool, run errands, and travel to visit family and friends.
The Academy’s tradition of Christmas Baskets has been celebrated for nearly 100 years. It gives us pause to be grateful for these and our many blessings. My family was first introduced to this tradition when I was a Primary student at the Academy of the Sacred Heart. The request from the school was to provide a ‘”basket’ of food to feed a family on Christmas Day. My family accepted this invitation and thus began a family tradition within an Academy tradition.
My family, which included my parents, a brother, sister, and me, made a list of the food items we wanted to buy and to the store we went to shop for breakfast, lunch and Christmas dinner for a family that needed this gift from a stranger because circumstances made it difficult or not possible for them to provide for their family.
We filled our cart with our favorites and the traditional Christmas dinner staples. Given that my family loved Christmas, my dad encouraged us to share the fun and led us to the Christmas goodie aisle. We added festive napkins, candy canes, and decorated cookies – the things that made you know THIS was a special occasion. The invitation from the Academy was to wrap the outside of a very large box, add a bow and fill it with all the goodies we purchased. This family tradition continued until my younger sister graduated – a 20-year run of Baronovic tradition.
Fast forward, my husband and I continued this “family outing” tradition in 1986 when our daughter Katie entered Pre-Primary. We made our list, chose our favorites, and went to the store as a family. We still wrapped a huge box with Christmas wrap, tied a bow around it, and brought it to school on the day of the Christmas Basket liturgy. This family project for us lasted until 1999, when our son Christopher graduated.
Marco Rosales, Katie Renken, Keith (before he began Primary) and Marcia Renken.
Today, two of my grandchildren (Keith ’28 and Benji ’33) attend the Academy and their family continues this Academy tradition. It makes my heart smile to see their excitement as they shop for others and lovingly fill their family’s basket.
Celebrated in all Sacred Heart schools, this opportunity is a direct, practical, and necessary response to Goal 3: a social awareness which impels to action. The word ‘impels’ activates the need and responsibility in each of us to give to those in need currently.
As members of our school community, I invite you to create and participate in this tradition: Make a list … Check it twice … Pack it up … Deliver it to the Academy on December 18 or 19.
Then, join the students, faculty and staff for the liturgy on Friday, December 19 at 10 a.m. Prepare to see the bleachers filled with baskets and your heart filled with love as we enter the fourth week of Advent. Your hearts will thank you!
