Breakfast with Santa kicks off holiday season at St. John Brebeuf

CAPTION

Aeson, a pre-kindergartener and Arabella, a third grader at St. John Brebeuf School in Niles got a chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus at Breakfast with Santa that kicked off Christmas season activities for the parish. The breakfast drew a capacity crowd of nearly 400. Photo by Amy DuMez

A capacity crowd at this year’s Breakfast with Santa, Sunday, Dec. 10, began the holiday season at St. John Brebeuf with nearly 400 people in attendance. A tradition for about 15 years, the breakfast was the first in a series of activities that helped celebrate the season at the church founded in 1953 as the first Catholic parish in Niles.

They included the 5th annual DIY Messiah presented by the Niles Metropolitan Chorus and Musica Lumina Orchestra, a Christmas Band Concert at Notre Dame College Prep, a Christmas concert for students in grades K-4, and a special Christmas activity for Jumping Jaguars playgroup for children 0 to 3 and their caregivers who will have an opportunity to see the dress rehearsal of the Living Nativity presentation by first graders which is scheduled at the All School Mass, on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 8:30 a.m.

Capping the activities is a Family Mass and Living Nativity presentation by first graders on Sunday, Dec. 24, at 3 p.m. in the church.

The Living Nativity scene has been a tradition for more than 40 years when Sheila Harrington, who was the first-grade teacher when the school opened, began the event. Cathy Maltese who began 18 years ago as Harrington’s teaching partner has continued the practice. “The children truly enjoy acting out the story and take it to heart,” said Maltese. “When they hear the Gospel, they recognize the part they are playing and it gives them a better understanding of the story.”