We Can't Imagine A More Joyous Event!

The 62nd Annual Archbishop’s Christmas Gala for Children will host nearly 550 young people who receive services from over a dozen programs administered by Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS). They represent approximately 16,000 children across the Delaware Valley who benefited from residential and community-based programs offered by CSS this year, including children with disabilities, at-risk children, and dependent or court-adjudicated youth.

The Archbishop’s Christmas Gala for Children will kick off with a live Nativity scene on the front portico of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center. The scene will feature students from Saint Raymond of Peñafort School along with live animals.

The theme for this year’s party is the “Little Drummer Boy.” The Catholic Community Choir (Delaware County), Saint Athanasius School Choir (Northwest Philadelphia), and Mr. Kamal Bostic-Smith from Saint Martin de Porres Out of School Time program (North Philadelphia) will perform songs from the Little Drummer Boy. Saint Raymond School (Northwest Philadelphia), Praise Dancers from Divine Mercy Parish, and the Dynamic Elite Spirit Dancers from the DePaul School’s Out of School Time program (Germantown) will dance, act out scenes from the story, and create a live Nativity.
Young people attending the Archbishop’s Christmas Gala for Children will receive gifts to help make their Christmas wishes a reality. The gifts were generously donated by students from Archdiocesan High Schools, staff from the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, and customers from Louella and the McCloskey Financial Group.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

2:00 p.m.

Sheraton Philadelphia Center City Hotel

17th Street between Race and Vine Streets
 Philadelphia, PA 19103

12:00 p.m. Students from Saint Raymond of Peñafort create a live Nativity on the portico of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center

1:00 p.m. Saint Charles Borromeo Parish Choir sings carols in the lobby as children arrive and the Catholic Community Choir performs as children enter ballroom

2:00 p.m. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. arrives and greets children followed by a performance by praise dancers from Divine Mercy Parish

2:10 p.m. Saint Athanasius School Choir perform songs from the Little Drummer Boy

2:20 p.m. The Dynamic Elite Spirit Dancers from the DePaul School’s Out of School Time program performs a hip hop routine based on the theme of the Little Drummer Boy

2:35 p.m. Saint Raymond of Peñafort creates a second Nativity scene

2:50 p.m. Santa arrives to greet the children

2:55 p.m. Santa’s helpers distribute gifts

In conjunction with the 62nd Annual Archbishop’s Christmas Gala for Children, CSS will hold an inaugural Day of Giving. Similar to Giving Tuesday, this initiative promotes generosity and encourages philanthropy. Money raised will go towards the Archbishop’s Benefit for Children Appeal. This year round Appeal ensures the vitality of countless CSS programs such as the Out-of-School Time Program, the Strengthening Families Program, Casa del Carmen’s Preschool Academy, Mercy Hospice, and more.