Extending the Season
By S. Andrea Koverman
Did you know that the season of Christmas doesn’t officially end until Feb. 2? Though the decorations have all been packed up and put away till next year, we at Santo Niño are still basking in the warmth of the blessings received in this most unusual but very special season, and expect to continue doing so well beyond Feb. 2!
As our regular followers will know, we were unable to have our usual big Posada and Christmas party because of the COVID virus, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Thanks to S. Romina Sapinoso’s technical skills, we took our party online and were able to invite friends from both near and far to join us. Each Santo Niño family that could, recorded themselves singing and dancing to a Christmas song and sent it to be incorporated into the program. Then everyone logged on at the appointed time and enjoyed a virtual traditional Posada with readings, prayers, and our annual blessing from Fr. Bill. It was a wonderful way of being together without actually being together and allowed some of our extended family to see the beautiful children and mothers they are supporting.
But that wasn’t the end of our celebrating! Because of the generosity of so many, we were able to put together goody bags that included small toys, something warm to wear and lots of treats for the children, and to give each of our moms a little money for Christmas dinner. The students from Loretto Academy had a supply drive and donated boxes and boxes of school supplies so all of the children had markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue, scissors, paper and coloring books to keep them busy during the break. And our new friends at Bell 2 Bell Teacher Supply Store in El Paso provided storybooks and other items that we added to the bags. The Loretto girls also donated a mountain of diapers, an item at the top of the wish list for several of the mothers. Diapers for older kids and adults are nearly impossible to come by and super expensive even when they are found.
So, a couple days after the party, Sisters Peggy Deneweth, Carol Wirtz, Romina and Andrea Koverman donned reindeer antlers and a Santa hat (and masks, of course!), and our indispensable Associate Sofia drove us all over Anapra so we could hand deliver the Christmas presents. The surprised look on the faces of the children and their families when we showed up on their doorsteps was priceless! Many tears of joy were shared as we let each special child and family know that they are loved and were not forgotten in a year when so many challenges have kept us apart and made life even more difficult for them than usual. And we fortunate Sisters of Charity were so blessed to be the delivery team that made sure that message was received. Christmas presents all around!
