Some 500 area kids joined Archbishop Charles Chaput in wishing Jesus a happy birthday during the 64th annual Archbishop’s Benefit for Children Christmas Party.
The gathering, which took place on Dec. 19 at the Philadelphia 201 Hotel in Center City, featured a living Nativity, live music, gifts, dancing, and a large birthday cake for the infant Jesus.
(Related: Read CatholicPhilly.com’s feature article on the Archbishop’s Benefit for Children Christmas Party, which includes Facebook Live video from the event.)
The three-hour festivities capped what is actually a year-round fundraising effort, through which the Archbishop’s Benefit for Children works to help sustain a wide array of archdiocesan Catholic Social Service (CSS) initiatives. Among those served by CSS programs are children with disabilities, at-risk children and dependent or court-adjudicated youth.
(All photos by Sarah Webb.)
Kids attending the Dec. 19 party had a chance to pet animals (such as this alpaca) that appeared in the event’s living Nativity scene.
Barry Martin (with guitar) led the Good Shepherd Singers of St. John’s Hospice in some pre-party caroling.
Actor and singer Kamal Bostic-Smith performed “O Holy Night” and other Christmas classics for Archbishop Chaput.
Students from St. Raymond of Peñafort Parish School in Philadelphia reenacted Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
Mary and Joseph blew out the candles on a large birthday cake in honor of the infant Jesus, as master of ceremonies Father Christopher Walsh looks on.
Archbishop Charles Chaput wishes a Merry Christmas to a boy enjoying the Christmas party.
Balloons dropped on some 500 children attending the 64th annual Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children Dec. 19 at the Philadelphia 201 Hotel. The fundraiser supports the year-long ministries of archdiocesan Catholic Social Services for at-risk children throughout the Philadelphia region.
Children enjoy the Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children Christmas Party in 2019. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
Children dance at the annual Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children held Dec. 19 at the Philadelphia 201 Hotel. (Sarah Webb)
Students from St. Raymond of Peñafort Parish School performed several dance routines after presenting a contemporary reflection on the Christmas story.
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