In case you’ve been out of the area or simply too enmeshed in Christmastime traditions to catch local news in the last week or so, here’s a recap highlighting Christmas stories — featuring Catholic places and Catholic school students, of course — that made local newspapers and TV stations:
- ‘Elves’ brighten Gilbert family’s Christmas for 12 days straight — An Arizona Republic article follows up on the first Christmas that the young Bemis family faced without Scot Bemis, a legendary football coach at Notre Dame Preparatory in Scottsdale. He succumbed to cancer in January. Those who loved him haven’t forgotten about his family. Read story.
- Hosting Christmas Eve with homeless families — In one segment of a special Christmas Eve-themed episode of The Bishop’s Hour, Linda Rego, Family Promise Coordinator at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Scottsdale discusses how the parish helps homeless families each year during the week of Christmas by housing families. Listen here.
- Christmas Eve homily from Bishop Olmsted —The Maggie’s Place staff managed to get a copy and post a photo of it online. There’s also an audio version from Faith and Life TV as well as a video of the full Mass.
- Christmas through Prayer and a Bear and Native American outreach — Make an Investment in Love and Kindness, a Catholic-based organization that exists to end human suffering by committing acts of love and kindness, had waves of volunteers complete various projects spreading Christmas cheer.
*Girl Scouts from east Mesa held a “Prayer and a Bear” event Dec. 9 at a retirement center in Mesa. They sang carols and delivered teddy bears wrapped with a prayer.
*Young adults did the same thing Christmas Eve for residents in a behavioral health center in Mesa.
*Another group traveled through snow to deliver gifts (largely warm clothing) to 40 adopted children on the Navajo Indian reservation. View photo stream.
- Student shopping spree at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store — FOX 10 was there last week when students from a low-income school enjoyed special $1 pricing throughout the store so they could buy gifts for each member of their family. Watch the short video.
- Christmas message from Bishop Olmsted — In case you missed it on KEZ 99.9 FM and Immaculate Heart Radio 1310AM, you can hear it here.
- Bringing joy with bikes — An Arizona Republic article reports on a Brophy freshman who began repairing and donating one bike. Last year, it was 17. This year, it was 30 with plans to keep growing. Read article.
