December 28, 2023

Our young people, coworkers, board members, and guests celebrated a favorite Mercy Home tradition this December—the 31st annual Mercy Home Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Youth, board members, and other guests gathered at the Home to illuminate the Christmas season while reflecting on the many ways our kids have enhanced life for others throughout the community over the course of the past year.

Everyone wore their holiday best for the occasion and enjoyed hearing from Fr. Scott Donahue, Chicago 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett,Jr., our young people, and even Jolly Old St. Nick himself. 

After reading the Christmas story from St. Luke’s Gospel, Fr. Scott explained how the life and legend behind the patron saint of gift giving became the model for the beloved figure of Santa Claus, whose arrival children eagerly anticipate year after year. He then shared a story, made popular in a recent viral video, about a young boy in England who was excited about getting a part in his school’s Christmas play. The boy revealed that his role was simple: holding the door open for the other cast members.

“Having an opportunity to make a difference, to open a door, it’s so much about what we’re about at Mercy Home for Boys & Girls,” Fr. Scott said. “It’s about opening doors, enhancing life, making life better.”

Afterward, a video revealed our kids’ favorite Christmas moments at Mercy Home and the things for which they were most thankful.

Later, three youth representatives highlighted the ways our young people gave back to others during the past year.

“Throughout 2023, the young people of Mercy Home have made a positive impact in the community by participating in a number of service projects,” Kaden, one of the youth speakers, said.

Kaden, Marvin, and Alexa took turns describing the diverse volunteer activities that all of our young people performed this year, including: creating care packages for families residing at the Ronald McDonald House during the holiday season, get-well cards for hospitalized children, and care packages for unhoused people in Chicago; participating in clean-up projects at a retirement facility, a section of Cook County forest preserves, and in the Englewood community; assembling furniture for World Vision; packaging food and meals at Feed My Starving Children, the Pilsen Food Pantry, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository; volunteering at The Bridge Teen Center in Orland Park, IL and The Children’s Farm at the Center in Palos Park, IL; and so many more. 

Alexa recounted our young women’s trip to North Carolina earlier this year to help build houses with Habitat for Humanity.  “This year has been so fulfilling for us and we are looking forward to continuing our service in 2024,” Alexa said. 

Our young people even made a difference right here at the Home, handing out written words of affirmation to coworkers and fellow youth to close out the year by spreading holiday cheer. 

“We hope to bring the spirit of thankfulness and kindness into 2024,” Marvin said. 

As is the tradition at this annual gathering, our young people then presented the “Book of Service” summarizing their service projects as their Christmas gift to the City of Chicago. Accepting the book for the city was Alderman Burnett, who also expressed his admiration for Mercy Home. “On behalf of the city of Chicago, I’m proud of all the people at Mercy Home for Boys & Girls,” Burnett said.

Of course, no Christmas celebration would be complete without a visit from Santa Claus, played masterfully again by Bob Carmody, a member of our Board of Directors. Carmody surprised the crowd by bursting out of a giant gift box to Bruce Springsteen’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” He and Fr. Scott then led a countdown from ten, after which our youth speakers flipped the switch to light the Home’s Christmas tree. The evening concluded, as it does every year, with the traditional singing of “Silent Night.”