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Pictures of the Celebration: |
Christmas Toys Bring Joy to Poor Children For many years with the help of benefactors and local
volunteers the Augustinian Community of Trujillo has sponsored a Christmas
toy giving in the poorer parts of our parish community here. On the
outskirts of the main city, these small communities live in situations of
poverty with the lack of basic services. Each year different volunteers of the parish help organize and collect small toys to share with the children in these poorer neighborhoods and thus provide a smile and feeling of joy as Christmas draws near. Along with the toy, hot chocolate and paneton (a special Christmas bread) are also shared so the the celebration is complete and the children experience, through the generosity and sharing of others, what the Christmas spirit is about in its root. The sharing of God of himself with humanity always marks the height of generosity and so invites us in this season to also reach out in solidarity and generosity to others. This is what has lead to this annual gift sharing. In the parish zone of La Marina, on Dec. 20th, a health
professional from the parish, (Silvia) helped organize this Christmas gift
giving.
It is a simple gesture with a small toy given to each
children. But since it will be the only toy these children receive at
Christmas it is a special day indeed. |
Gathering
toys from different other health workers and friends, this was one of the
last visits to be made prior to the Christmas celebration. About 50
children were present to receive the hot chocolate (a tradition at the
Christmas table in Peru), each a small paneton (Christmas bread), and
receive their individual toy to celebrate the season.