STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In what has become a virtual holiday tradition, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at St. Joseph Hill Academy delighted a large crowd of students, religious, teachers, parents and friends at the Arrochar school.
Lawrence Hansen, principal of the elementary school, noted:"Carol and Charles Molesso did a great deal in planning for the event. And working with our family association on this amazing tree lighting was wonderful."
Members of the Family Association also had a heavy hand in decorating the tree -- and fifth grade students sang Christmas tunes as a choir in front of the school steps while music teacher, Regina Innocente accompanied on keyboard.
"Carol and Charles picked out this magnificent tree and set it up for the event," Hansen added "Mrs. Molesso and a host of volunteers helped to decorate the tree and make the event a special night for the St. Joseph Hill Academy family."
And in recalling the words of Pope John Paul II, Hansen stated: "This Christmas tree a symbol of eternal life. These beautiful green trees survive even the harshest of winters and it reminds us that God's love is eternal and can withstand anything. Many of us have these beautiful symbols in our homes and under them we place our many gifts that we buy for our families and friends."
He also reminded the crowd members to "remember that the true gifts at Christmas are not those that we wrap in paper or fancy bows, rather it is the gift of love, love that we show for one another, the same love that God showed us as he sent us the greatest Gift, his only son to save us."
In what was a countdown of sorts, members of the St. Joseph Hill Academy counted backwards from 10 until the lights went on to a rousing round of cheers -- and Sister Mary Coffelt, the president of St. Joseph Hill Academy, led everyone in a Christmas prayer.
To mark the highly anticipated occasion, each student was presented with a Christmas ornament and customary candy cane.
A light and friendly event amid a community building atmosphere, the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony enabled St. Joseph Hill students to live the Christmas experience as a family and promoted student camaraderie.
The event was followed by the school's annual Christmas Fair -- yet another way to gather together the St. Joseph Hill Academy family to celebrate the joy of the season.
We're told a number of students wore shirts to commemorate the event that read "There's no place like Hill for the holidays" and eighth grade helpers donned shirts that read "Don't count the days, make the days count.
"I truly am blessed to be part of such a wonderful community of people," Hansen continued.
And in keeping with the Christmas theme of helping the community, students donated to their Angel Tree of Giving.
Hansen explained students took an angel tag from the tree in the lobby of the school and collected money to purchase the gift written on the back of the angel tag. All extra funds donated were earmarked for the purchase of additional toys being donated to the "Where to Turn" Holiday Toy Store, where families can come pick out toys free of charge.
Also present were students from the Seton Foundation who shopped and were paired with seventh grade students to help them play carnival games ran by eighth grade students who also acted as Santa's elves and wore Christmas hats.
Hansen further pointed out: "Christmas is something that shouldn't be one day a year, but should always be with us. And it's not so much about the presents under the tree, but rather the people who are gathered around it."