St. William’s students explore the meaning of Christmas

The students of St. William’s Catholic Church of Maddock religious education participated in activities celebrating the liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.

Advent is a season of preparing, waiting and watching. Children from our parish were invited to decorate a small, lighted tree for our Jesse Tree. Each ornament children placed on the tree symbolized a key event in salvation history, from creation to Jesus' birth. Younger children in our parish were supported by their parents or older siblings to help hang the ornaments. A narrator read a short script highlighting the significance of the ornaments event. The decorated Jesse Tree remained in the sanctuary through Epiphany reminding our parish of the Advent season and how historically the people waited and longed for the coming of the Messiah. This was our second annual decorating event. 

As Christmas break approached, students participated in an activity focused on giving. Guided by teachers, each child selected a name from our community or local nursing home, prayed for that person, decorated a treat bag, added a note about God's love, and filled the bag with treats. Also, the children secretly drew the name of another student in our religious education program. They prayed for each other and decorated a goodie bag as an exchange gift of prayers and treats. This activity of praying and giving is a practical way to teach spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

Finally, on the feast of Epiphany, students performed the Christmas story for our parish. The traditional story of our Messiah’s birth included the arrival of the Magi. Though not all of our magi made it in time to our church, the tender performance touched the hearts of our parishioners and in small parishes, you go with what you got!

These seasonal liturgical activities extend the curriculum by involving students in parish and community life and make lifetime memories they will always remember. Involvement extending beyond the classroom add to children’s sense of belonging, serving and contributing to their parish here at St. Williams and provide activities to live out their faith as young members.