COAL TOWNSHIP - The administration, faculty, staff, students and alumni of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School participated in the annual Toys for Christmas liturgy Wednesday. Through their generosity, more than 300 toys were collected for the needy families of the area.
The faculty, staff, students and extended family of Lourdes celebrate this liturgy as preparation for Christmas each year. The Mass helps focus on the message of love, which the birth of Christ brings to all. The gathering of gifts for those in need allows the Lourdes community to express their love in active service.
The Toys for Christmas Liturgy has been a regular activity of the Boys Service Club the Girls Action League for more than 40 years. Violette Feudale, moderator of the clubs, coordinated the event and planned the liturgy.
The Rev. Al Sceski, chaplain of Our Lady of Lourdes was the celebrant and homilist for the liturgy. The Rev. Andrew Stahmer, was concelebrant with Deacon Martin McCarthy proclaiming the Gospel.
Participants included: Daniel Menapace, cross bearer; Anthony Catino and Michael Gilger, altar servers; Alexia Wheary, lector; Emily Mestlin and Vincent Sawyer, offertory gifts; William Bittner, Aaron Greager, Edward Kurtz and Nick Taylor, flags; Angelique Pennypacker and Kelsey Williams, program distributors.
Major Tina Streck of the Salvation Army attended the liturgy to extend thanks to the Lourdes community and praise their efforts in reaching out to the needy of the area.