The Christmas Season Begins with Annual Tree Lighting

December 9, 2025

A beloved holiday tradition kicked off the Christmas season at Mercy Home when our young people, coworkers, board members, and guests gathered for the 33rd annual Mercy Home Tree Lighting Ceremony. The highlight of this special event came when our young people summarized the many ways they gave back to the community throughout the year in the annual Book of Service. 

The festivities began with Christmas carols, led by coworkers, and some delicious hot cocoa for guests. Mercy Home President and CEO Fr. Scott Donahue then offered his Christmas reflection following a reading of Luke’s Gospel. 

Fr. Scott said that the Christmas season demonstrates God’s love for each of us. “God sent his son into the world to teach us how to live our lives with grace,” he said.

He also encouraged our guests, as well as our young people, to visit our newly restored manger scene and spend some time there to contemplate the wonder of the Nativity. “I hope all of you get out there and spend a little quiet time looking into the manger, looking at the mystery of God who becomes flesh and blood among us,” he said. 

Following Fr. Scott’s reflection, seven youth representatives highlighted the many ways our young people gave back to others throughout the city and beyond over the past year. 

D’Arvae, Julian, Simone, Alexa, Charla, Tyrianah, and Pierre described the numerous volunteer opportunities that our young people took advantage of over the past year. These included a service trip to Clarksdale, Mississippi, to volunteer building houses with the Clarksdale Area Fuller Center for Housing, packing food for those in need both locally and globally through the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Feed My Starving Children, keeping the community clean by picking up trash in city spaces, helping care for animals at PAWS Chicago, organizing supplies for Cradles to Crayons, and writing encouraging cards to children with cancer, just to name a few.

“These experiences allowed us to strengthen skills, build connections, and deepen our commitment to service,” Pierre said. “We look forward to continuing these efforts to serve our community.”

Keeping with tradition, our young people presented this year’s Book of Service to as their Christmas gift to the City of Chicago. Accepting the book on behalf of the city were elected officials 27th Ward Alderman Walter Redmond Burnett and City Clerk Anna Valencia, both of whom expressed their appreciation for the positive impact Mercy Home and specifically its young people have on Chicago. 

The ceremony concluded with a countdown from 10 before our speakers threw the switch, illuminating the ceiling-high tree and officially beginning the Christmas season at Mercy Home. Those gathered then joined together in a rendition of “Silent Night.”

Afterward, our young people enjoyed dinner together while our board members gathered for their annual Christmas party. 

For more than three decades, there has been no better way to welcome the season of giving and gratitude at our Home than by celebrating acts of service! A big thank you to all of our guests, our young people and coworkers for helping us continue this special tradition year after year and who made this year’s Tree Lighting such a success.