Breakfast with Santa

Before Santa hitches up his sleigh for his Christmas Eve ride, he took time to have breakfast with children at St. Fidelis School, College Point, on Dec. 1.

The St. Cecile Choir of Our Lady of Miracles parish, Canarsie, will present its first Classical Christmas Concert accompanied by the St. Cecile Chamber Orchestra on Sunday, Dec. 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Rev. Gennaro Simonetti Parish Center.

Donation is $25 for adults; $15, for children under 12.
Call 718-257-2400.

Come enjoy a Christmas Ceili with Pete Kelly’s Ceili Band on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 8:30 p.m. with the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens at 297 Willis Ave., Mineola.

Then make reservations for their New Year’s Eve Dance, Dec. 31 at 8:30 p.m. Entertainment by the Billy Keenan Prime Time Showband. $75.

Call 516-746-9392, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Glenn Mohr Chorale will present its dance and drama production of “Christmas in Heaven,” on Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. at St. Ignatius Retreat House, 251 Searingtown Rd., Manhasset.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

Call 866-811-4111.

The shelves in the Food Pantry at Immaculate Conception, Jamaica, are bare. They especially need cereal and dry milk, but would welcome any canned vegetables, fruits, canned tuna, pasta or rice.
Call 718-739-0880.

The Homeless Shelter at Blessed Sacrament, Jackson Heights, needs volunteers.

Call 718-639-3888.

This Week’s Tip of The TabletTalk Top Hat goes to the volunteers and others who are vital to the work of the School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center in Jamaica.

The SSND Educational Center provides continuing education for women who are working toward getting their GED diplomas. Volunteer Sister Margaret Forsyth, SSND, has become the backbone of the Basic Education program. Sister Carlann Buscemi, SSND, teaches social studies, science and vocabulary.

And sharing their practical skills are Leroy Hamilton, parish maintenance man, and retired plumber, Dan Becker. Friends of the Center, Larry Gomez and Joe Mauro, sent men to assist with carpentry work. Retired Sister Marie Elena, SSND, and Sister Sue Czaplicki, SSND, parish DRE, put out the Center’s newsletter. Others greet students and answer the phones. For information on the SSND Education Center, call 718-738-0588.

Amahl and the Night Visitors, a one-hour opera by Gian Carlo Menotti about The Three Kings, will be performed on Friday, Jan. 4, at 8 p.m. at St. Augustine Church, Park Slope.

The performance will benefit the Tower of Faith Campaign.

For more information, call 718-625-1161.

Looking for something to do on New Year’s Eve? St. Adalbert’s, Elmhurst, is having their 13th annual Family New Year’s Eve Party, Dec. 31, 8 p.m-1 a.m. The evening includes hot buffet, noisemakers, party hats, music by Eternal Sounds and a champagne toast at midnight.

$40 for adults, $16 for children 5-16, and children under five, free. Reserve tickets by calling 718-639-0212.

Come share the Polish tradition of Oplatek – the sharing of the Christmas wafer – at Our Lady of Czestochowa-St. Casimir Church in Park Slope on Jan. 6, 1 p.m., with dinner and dancing in the parish hall. Admission is $25.

For reservations, call 718-768-5725.

St. Pancras School, Glendale, is preparing for a gala year of celebrations for the school’s 100th anniversary.
On Jan. 27, 2008, Bishop DiMarzio will celebrate Mass to open the centennial year. A Super Bowl Party on Feb. 2 and Centennial Dance on April 19 get things going.

Don’t miss the May 19 Golf Outing or the Gala Dinner Dance late next year.

For information, call 718-821-6721.

Best wishes to you and your family for a blessed Christmas. Share your photos and news items by sending them to lbusetti@thetablet.org.

Coat Drive in Woodside

In the Christmas spirit, students at Corpus Christi School, Woodside, are conducting a coat drive during December and January to benefit the Children’s Aid Society. Donations of new or gently used coats for children and adults would be greatly appreciated. The children at Corpus Christi are thankful for their many gifts and want to share with others who are less fortunate. Coats can be dropped off at the school at 31-29 60th St., Woodside, or call 718-721-2484.