Santa Claus Visits St. Maria Goretti Parish

Even as busy as he is this time of year, Santa Claus made his annual stop at St. Maria Goretti Church on Saturday, Dec. 9.

He wanted to hear Deacon Patrick Grode, a seminarian at Pope St. John XXIII Seminary in Weston, talk about the very first Christmas presents brought by the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus. Santa also enjoyed some Dunkin’ donuts, muffins, and cocoa, generously donated by MaryAnn Coletta.

But Santa’s favorite part of his visit every year is spending time with some of his favorite kids and their families! You might be surprised to know that most of the kids who come to whisper in his ear are more interested in just learning more about him than giving him a Christmas present wish list. One of Santa’s favorite questions came from a little boy who asked, “What kind of cookie would you like us to leave out for you this year?”

Photos by Marie Lagman.

Santa with Frankie, dad Attilio, and mom Kaitlyn Qualtieri; Santa with Vincent, Julia, and Caileigh Reed; Santa with Victoria, dad Lorenzo, and Christopher Ruisi; Deacon Patrick Grode (seminarian at Pope St. John Paul XXIII Seminary in Weston) tells the children about the first Christmas presents the Three Wise Men brought for the baby Jesus; Even Father Paul Ritt (Pastor of the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative) had some Christmas wishes to whisper into Santa Claus's ear