Facebook
TwitterEmployees Share What They Enjoy Most About the Christmas Season
The smile on little children’s faces
Willie Bruton, Fiscal Services
Time spent with family without having to rush and the feeling of peace that comes at Christmas.
Dawn Chaney, Villa Maria Continuum
How family members can put aside differences they have with one another to spend that day together in peace and harmony.
Daniel Stevens, Fiscal Services
The smiles and family interaction that comes with the holiday.
Wilson Brockington, Jr., Villa Maria School
I enjoy the joy of the season- everyone is just a little bit more generous, a little bit more optimistic, and a little more willing to give!
Hayley Steiner, Carroll County Head Start
I love getting together with family and friends, the Christmas movies and the television specials, the beautiful Christmas decorations, great food and singing Christmas songs.
The thing I love most about Christmas is that we are celebrating the birthday of Christ.
Nancy Oberender, Fiscal Services
I enjoy the overwhelming feeling of love, warmth, and appreciation that's stirred up during the Christmas season.
Valeria Foster, St. Jerome’s Head Start
The music. Carols trigger memories of my childhood.
Renee Johnson, Communications
Love of God, love of family and the beautiful music.
Ardath Johnson, Senior Housing Division
Everyone being together and sharing in all of our family traditions.
Therese Moran Conlon, Villa Maria Behavioral Health Clinic
Having the time to spend with my amazing family, indulging in delicious Italian feasts, the sounds and smells of the season, and most of all the light in my son’s eyes as he enjoys all of the wonder and pure joy of the holidays!
Angie Mason, Villa Maria School
Family, friends and telling the story of the Christmas to my grandchildren.
Diane Grocki, Carroll County Head Start
Spending time with family, baking cookies with my sister, watching my niece and nephew decorate sugar cookies using as many colored sprinkles as possible, preparing and sharing holiday meals and shopping for others.
Vickie Hammond, Fiscal Services
The holidays truly are what one makes them to be...I believe all find the fun within by sharing it outward. It’s a holiday that compels you to use all your senses - from trimming the tree, baking cookies, sharing of experiences with friends and family, movie favorites to watch and hear, and the love you feel from one another is just profound to me!
Carol Palmer, Community Services Division
Being with my family, watching others opening gifts most of all, saying thank the Lord for this day.
Lisa Samuels, Villa Maria Residential Treatment Center
The openness for those around me to be more willing to open their hearts and homes to help others in need whether they are strangers or family members. I also love hearing and watching the excitement of my 3 grandsons as the time draws closer and how extra loving they become with joy and pleasure.
Leslie Felton, Development and Communications
I love the palpable excitement in the air, the kids making their lists full of hope and being nice so Santa won’t cross them out. Most of all I love the spirit of generosity and good will that the Christmas season brings.
Ifeoma Okolo, Fiscal Services
My children come home!
Sue Herbert, Villa Maria School
To be blessed to be with my family and extended family, and for all the showers of blessings I have received. I am also thankful to Catholic Charities for the support they give me and my family for the many years I have been working here.
Elizabeth George, St. Jerome's Head Start
I most enjoy seeing the children in our programs smile. For the past 23 years I have had the opportunity to see the children in the St. Vincent’s residential program enjoy all of the wonderful holiday activities and events as well as seeing their smiling faces as they experience the joy on Christmas morning. This year I am looking forward to seeing even more of the children’s smiles throughout St. Vincent’s Villa and the entire Child & Family Services Division.
Cyndi Mitchell-Summer, St. Vincent’s Villa
A chance once a year to relive my fondest memories of childhood through the eyes of the children. Remembering the gathering of families together enjoying the season and now as an adult realizing how precious and important those times were and even more today than ever.
John Steuernagle, Villa Maria
Sharing our nation's most precious holiday with family and friends. It is also a time to teach our children that the true gift comes from above.
Anissa Magruder, Carroll County Head Start
Family and celebrating Jesus’ birthday.
Linda Miller, Carroll County Head Start
I love the feeling of Good Will That you encounter from almost everyone you run into.
Julie Crawford Guy, Gallagher Services
The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I think we need to focus more on his birth then the commercialism of Christmas. To give thanks and fellowship with family and friends.
Danita Cornute, Villa Maria Residential Treatment Center
The colors
The holiday buzz
The chance of snow
The Christmas music
That people are warming
The last minute shopping
The wonderful decorations
The smell of holly and pine
The good food, and great company
The general cheer and good graces
And of course the trimming of the tree
Jane Allen, Fiscal Services
The warmth of the fireplace, the soft sound of Christmas carols in the background and the loving feeling in my heart with my family surrounding me.
Madeleine Frey, Gallagher Services
Spending time with my family and our dog, especially Christmas morning breakfast!
Jackie Reid, My Sister’s Place Women’s Center
For 6 years now I've been invited to help my friends John and Susie decorate their Christmas tree. We play Christmas music, drink hot chocolate and enjoy one another's company. Their children are 7 and 5 now and they have come to expect that I will be there when they decorate their tree! It's very fun to see the experience, of course, through the eyes of two precious little girls.
Allison Stone, Project SERVE
Decorating (garland, bells and wreaths everywhere), baking cookies, having friends and family over to watch Mickey’s Christmas Carol, candlelit church services and singing Christmas carols loudly whether or not you can sing well. I love that my family finds balance between honoring Christ and the true meaning of the Christmas blessing while still enjoying modern traditions and celebrations. For me, this is indeed the most wonderful time of the year!
Ruby Brown, Senior Housing
The sweet and savory aroma bring back memories of Grandma Cooking in kitchen. Gathering in the living room in front of the tree opening gifts. Once the tree is decorated I sit back with glass in hand and marvel at the dancing lights upon the tree.
Tracey Madden, St. Jerome’s Head Start
I enjoy the Christmas Music and the Christmas Plays. The gathering of families, and the spirit of giving.
Tonya Kitchen, St. Jerome’s Head Start
I enjoy decorating my sister's and my mother’s Christmas Tree, and riding around looking at other's decorations . Singing Christmas Carols, holiday parties , watching Christmas programs, and the spirit of giving make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Stephanie Hall, St. Jerome’s Head Start
The time I have off. I enjoy the time I have off with my family and friends Giving out baskets to people who are less fortunate than I am. The smell of Christmas in the air. Decorating my house.The decorating of my Christmas tree. Riding around looking at all of the houses with lights. Going to church.
Sharon Booth, St. Jerome’s Head Start
The hustle and bustle of shopping for that perfect gift to put a smile on someone’s face. My family and friends call me Mrs. Santa because when I arrive at the destination where dinner is being held, I have bags and bags of gifts for everyone (they yell here is Mrs. Santa). In the evenings I turn off the house lights plug in all the Christmas lights and enjoy. And yes I am a big kid because I watch all the Christmas Cartoons.
Robin Johnson, My Sister's Place Women's Center
Being around friends and family!
Leah McCann, Carroll County Early Head Start
The smell of woodstoves/fireplaces burning when there is tons of snow on the ground.
Shannon Bowles, Villa Maria Continuum
I look forward to spending time with my husband and two adult daughters playing board games, watching our favorite Christmas movies, and eating goodies non-stop.
Liz Long, Center for Family Services, Adoption Program
The magic of Christmas Eve. My favorite part is sitting quietly with my family at the 4:00 o'clock Christmas Eve Mass. The decorations and the music are beautiful, and the anticipation of the Christmas celebrations is palpable. The grandchildren are all dressed up in their special outfits and they usually doze on us. Then we rush back to our home to welcome our extended family for Christmas Eve dinner.
Kerrie Burch-Deluca, Development and Communications
People being nice to each other and the generous spirits people have. I also very much enjoy being with my family.
Sharon Pilachowksi, Villa Maria
People every where seem to be more pleasant and polite to each other. They will strike up a conversation and wish you well. This only seems to occur during the Christmas Holiday and I love it.
Donna Bosley, Gallagher Services
It wouldn't be the Christmas season without the wonderful Christmas carols. When the violins start in Nat King Cole's "Christmas Song", I'm transported back to my childhood and feel the wonder of this season!
Kristen S. Kinkopf, Development and Communications
Doing things with my family - baking and decorating cookies, finding "the perfect tree", lighting the Advent candles each Sunday.
Deborah Sorrells, St. Vincent’s Villa
I love watching my 4 year old daughter examine the tree every night and tell me how beautiful it is.
Kristina Mako, St Vincent's Villa
I enjoy spending time with my family during our Christmas dinner on December 24th and opening gifts at midnight and then getting up early in the morning on Christmas Day to drive up to New York with my boyfriend and our dog to spend Christmas Day with his family.
Helany Giacoman, Villa Maria Schools
Comment on this story
Here's what others had to say
