The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ celebrate annual Christmas at the Center with face painting, crafts, decorating and Santa Claus

On Friday, December 12, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ celebrated holiday season with the community at its annual Christmas at the Center event.

This is one of the many holiday traditions the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ orchestrates every year. Sister Deb Davis, PHJC considers Christmas at the Center to be their most famous annual event hosted at The Center at Donaldson.

“When people think about coming here, they are often thinking about the adults coming to church,” Davis said. “While that is true and we’re here to do that as well, inviting people to continue their spiritual life with us and giving kids an intergenerational connection is so important. We have this event, the Easter egg hunt, and a few others that we try to get everybody to participate in.”

In the Lindenwood Retreat Center on campus, more than 40 Christmas Nativity scenes, also known as Christmas crèches, from different parts of the world were on display.

While many of the people attending Christmas at the Center were familiar with what the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ do, it offered an opportunity for people to learn more about their mission and purpose.

“Our chapel is open every single day, and anyone is welcome to come in,” Davis said. “It’s an opportunity for people to come meet the Sisters and make sure people feel at home when they’re here.”

Sister Margaret Anne Henss, PHJC believes Christmas is not only about being together for the holidays, but also spending time with those who understand the true meaning of the holiday.

“It’s wonderful that we can bring the children here to learn and see others who live with faith, hope, and love,” Henss said. “Santa isn’t just about giving gifts; it’s also about giving peace and love to one another, which is the most important part.”

Christmas at the Center had food and desserts available for everyone in attendance, along with five unique activities to participate in. Some children were doing frame decorating, while others wrote their letter to Santa Claus.

“The kids can decorate cookies with their siblings and parents,” Henss said. “They get pictures with Santa, make ornaments for their trees, and get their faces painted with different characters that they like such as Santa or Rudolph. It’s heartwarming to see the whole family join in on the activities.”

Sister Connie Bach, PHJC cherishes events like this one for the way they include everyone during the holidays, especially if they don’t get to have much of a celebration on their own.

“We try to make it festive for families that might be unable to have a really celebratory Christmas,” Bach said. “When they come in, they get a bag that has all kinds of information in it about the different things that happen here. We’re here to give them a great Christmas celebration, while also trying to let them know what’s available if they want to come back for retreats or spiritual direction.”

More than anything, Christmas at the Center is a time for the kids to have fun while adults can reflect on Christmas memories during the season of giving.

“I just really enjoy watching the children meet Santa and have fun with all the activities,” Bach said. “It makes me think back to my own childhood and all the things that I was able to do as a kid. Seeing them enjoy some of those same things is really uplifting for me, especially around the holidays.”

Even though many people look forward to receiving gifts on Christmas, Davis encourages people to know that the birth of Jesus Christ is the best gift of all.

“The focus on Jesus and bringing people closer to him is what I think about during Christmas time,” Davis said. “It’s about Santa Claus, but it’s also about presence. Presents are nice too, but presence is the first and foremost.”

For more information on the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, you can visit poorhandmaids.org.