Holiday spirit was in the air as Mercy Home’s kids and coworkers reveled in Christmas cheer with special celebrations at both our boys and our girls homes. Each evening began with youth speakers, a reflection from Mercy Home President Fr. Scott Donahue, a delicious meal, and a visit from former Mercy Home coworker Dreezy Claus (a.k.a. Chicago’s Black Santa) and his crew of merry helper elves.

Both celebrations began with a reflection from our young people on the meaning of belonging. At our West Loop Campus, several of our young men expressed what belonging means to them and ways they have found it in their lives. “I have found true belonging with family, a small group of friends, and in Mahoney Home—all places where I can be myself, I can show my inner child, and I don’t have to put up a wall to protect myself,” Marvin said. “When you belong, you have a sense of safety and happiness.”

“I try to make others feel like they belong by being there for them and by accepting who they are,” Kaden added. “If you make someone feel like they belong, they will know they can find you when they need you.”

Our young women also reflected on belonging in their spiritual celebration.

“Belonging is a feeling that you are accepted, that you fine, and that you are meant to be where you are,” Ilianna said. “I feel like I belong at Mercy Home because even though being here is difficult, knowing that the work in progress will pay off brings me hope.”

Further supporting the theme of belonging, our kids at both campuses highlighted their efforts to welcome migrants seeking asylum in Chicago by raising money for winter coats as the cold weather sets in. Between both campuses, youth raised over $500 to purchase warm coats for those in need.

“We hope that this small act of kindness can assure these people that our city is a place where they can find a sense of belonging,” T’Nya said.

Fr. Scott then shared his own reflection on the Christmas season with our kids and coworkers. He began by reading the Christmas story from the St. Luke’s Gospel. Then he shared a personal story from his own childhood about when his father, Louis Donahue, passed away suddenly. Fr. Scott was only in seventh grade and his family struggled as they faced their first Christmas without their loving father and husband. When their annual tradition of buying and setting up a Christmas tree didn’t go as planned, it caused Fr. Scott’s mother, Marion immense frustration.

“The reason I chose to tell this story is because Christmastime is about joy and is certainly a time you look forward to, but it’s not always the same for everyone,” he said. “Everyone has their own trauma and their own struggles and their own ways of trying to belong and be together.”

He then said that even if this Christmas is a difficult time, it’s important to look to the Christmas story and remember that good things can come of hard times.

“The beauty of it is if you look to the manger, they had a really tough beginning, but they stuck together,” he said. “They knew who it was that they belonged to, that all of them were the children of God. And the thing that refrained throughout the Christmas season is the word Emmanuel. It means God is with his people, no matter what struggles, difficulties, joys, or celebrations [are going on]. … Let’s be grateful for all that God has done because God is with us.”

After dinner and dessert, our young men gathered around the Christmas tree, surrounded by decorations, treats, and Christmas music. At our girls home, all the young women gathered in the living room next to a crackling fireplace. Before Dreezy Claus’s arrival, everyone sang Christmas carols together, basking in the warmth of the time spent together. The girls also enjoyed a special reading of “The Night Before Christmas.”

Our young people at both campuses welcomed the visit from Dreezy Clause with delight and made Christmas memories that will last a lifetime.