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Alums of all ages turned out last night—in spite of the usual demands of a busy holiday season—to pack more than 50 Christmas Baskets to be added to the school’s traditional liturgy this morning.  In this, the third year of this “Alumni Christmas Basket Gathering” event, more than $800 was donated by alums, allowing Chairs Charla Niccoli Dziedzic ’75 and Barb Luszkowski ’72 to go on a shopping spree so prodigious that they had to call a third alumna to provide more van space.
 
Besides the 50 laundry baskets they had purchased (when they were on sale), they were laden with fifty 10-pound sacks of potatoes, 50 bags of oranges, etc., etc., etc.. Not only did the group activate an assembly line to knock off the fun chore of loading these 50 planned gifts, but they also juggled the additional foodstuffs and paper products that were brought in by the carload that night.  And—best of all—they celebrated together with food, drink and good cheer in the place that had given them so many wonderful memories of past Christmases.

Merry Christmas, Academy alums!
 

We’ll soon be celebrating one of the Academy’s best-loved traditions: Christmas Basket Mass. In a practice several decades old, school families are invited to put together a basket of food with ingredients for a holiday meal and other small treats. Hundreds of food baskets are donated on the final day of school, piled high on Rauch Memorial bleachers during the Christmas Basket Liturgy, and delivered after Mass to a dozen charitable agencies throughout the area. When we gather for Christmas Basket Mass, these bountiful baskets will reflect the generosity of our school community.

In a newer tradition—now in its third year—ASH Alumni gather the evening before the Basket Mass to assemble their own food baskets. Their baskets are added to the collection the following day, and expand the circle of those in need who can be helped this holiday season.

When assembling a food basket, please use a sturdy container (e.g., laundry basket, plastic trash can or tub), and include at least one meat item (e.g., turkey or ham) that will be kept appropriately chilled by our receiving crew on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 17–18. CLICK HERE for a list of possible items for your basket.

Join us as we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child! All are welcome to attend our Christmas Eve Liturgy in the Shrine at 10 p.m. Dec. 24. 

Thanks to all who donated to the toy drive sponsored by Third Class! The students did a marvelous job coordinating the toy drive efforts. According to Mrs. Beckemeier, “The students really enjoyed presenting to the other classes, collecting the toys from all the homerooms, and loading them for the charity organization that distributes them to the needy in time for Christmas.” Wearing pajamas to school was an added perk for all students who took part in the toy drive!

One more way you can help those in need this holiday season… If you have any gently used winter apparel such as coats, hats, scarves, or gloves, or blankets, our Social Justice Leadership Council is collecting them through Tuesday, Dec. 8th.  Thank you!