St. John the Evangelist, Edmonton Outreach Spreads Christmas Joy

“Creator, we thank you for this day, we thank you for all the good things you put on Mother Earth for us to enjoy, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat! We also thank you for all the good people in our lives!”

The above is a prayer that is recited each morning by the children attending the Aboriginal Head Start Edmonton Program; a program that “aims to strengthen and prepare Aboriginal children ages three to five with the necessary school-readiness skills and cultural foundation to enter mainstream schools on an equal basis with all other children in a positive, fun, stimulating, and respectful learning environment.”  

Five years ago, while attending the Christmas celebration, St John the Evangelist Chair John Vrolijk, who also presently sits as the Chairperson of Amiskwaciy Cultural Society, noticed no Christmas presents for the children of the program to receive and enjoy at their Christmas celebration. So, John took this concern to St. John’s Outreach, and they decided to do what they could to remedy the situation.

They asked the congregation to provide gifts for Santa to give to the three-to-five-year-old Indigenous children attending the celebration and there was an enthusiastic response.

Each parishioner was invited to fill a gift bag with a present for a child in the program. Participants were given a child’s first name, gender, age and the classroom they attended in the Head Start program. They were encouraged to enclose a Christmas greeting in the gift bag. 

At this year’s celebration, Aboriginal Head Start Edmonton staff hosted the students, parents, grandparents and caregivers at a turkey dinner complete with all the fixings. After the delicious meal and dessert, 124 eager faces lit up with delight as the sound of bells signalled the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Filled with Christmas spirit, the children anxiously awaited their opportunity to spend a few moments with Santa, relay their Christmas wishes, and collect their special gift bags. The joy extended far beyond the children to all those in attendance.  

At the start of the Christmas season for the last five years, St. John the Evangelist members, as well as the children and staff of the Aboriginal Head Start Program have anxiously awaited the start of the program. St. John's Outreach Mission intends to continue this program in the coming years! Story by John Vrolijk and photo by Sue Philips, St. John the Evangelist, Edmonton