Christmas away from family

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ontheway1

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There are times when it is not possible to be with extended family for Christmas. Have you had this experience and how did you deal with it? Christmas ideas are most welcome.
 
Seek out friends that will also not be together with their families. Invite them over for dinner or a potluck.
Go to mass together with them.

Skype.

Volunteer to help serve dinner somewhere like a shelter or visit a nursing home.
 
Will you have your immediate family with you? Are they parents or spouse and children? Since my husband’s family is out of state, and he works as the music minister at our parish, he never gets to spend Christmas Day with them. However, we usually arrange for a celebration at some point between Christmas and New Years. This works well for his sister who also lives in another state as well. If we can’t do that, we frequently Skype.

If you just have your immediate family with you, I might consider an outing to look at Christmas lights, or inviting another family in a similar situation to dinner. If you are without any family, I would consider visiting a soup kitchen, children’s hospital, NICU, or nursing home. You could also invite the parish priest out for dinner too!
 
Thank you for your suggestions. I will be with my wife and son. I checked the websites of nearly all the Catholic churches in the area, but they end their Christmas activities by the middle of December. I just returned from a (rather horrible imo) Christmas program at the cathedral, and am still looking for an evening of carols anywhere.
Maybe the soup kitchen is the one activity that will convey the spirit.
 
I’ve only had one Christmas with my in-laws and two with my family since we married. We focus on what is happening at our parish. Between different ministries and charity programs we keep busy there. We also do angel tree programs. We live in a military community so we often invite people who are also away from home to dinner or babysit so mom can shop for presents.

Christmas morning we take lots of pictures to send to family. We make LOTS of phone calls. For the people that are able we will skype as well.
 
I’m having a very difficult time this year for Christmas … I spent the last 35 Christmas days with my husband’s family … my daughter married and moved away to another state years ago … she now has a beautiful home and wants to do Christmas day … so she invited us to come … we, of course, said yes … she is our daughter and we have two lovely very young grandchildren … but I am feeling a bit down about not spending Christmas with my husband’s family as we have done for so long … she did invite them also, but they said no to making the trip … figuring out where to spend Christmas is a decision I never thought I would have to make … but I guess as long as we keep Christ as the center of our Christmas all is well wherever we spend it.
 
A couple of years ago we were asked to give presents for children by our SVP. I bought some and wrapped them and while I was doing it I imagined the delight on a child’s face when they opened the present on Christmas Day. They were for the children of homeless people. My overriding thought though was that I wished I could have seen their faces when they opened the presents. I know, this was an idealised child but you see what I mean I’m sure.

So, where I am as far as I know there are very few orphanages of the type I’m thinking left, if any, but perhaps where you are they still exist? What a lovely time you’d have with such children on Christmas Day!

The other people who are also overlooked often are the elderly in nursing homes. Also very rewarding for you and them both.

Perhaps you could do a little of both in the one day?
 
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