A Beautiful Gift: Celebrating Christmas in Nursing Homes
Christmas is a time of celebration and love, but for many elderly people, it can also be a time of loneliness. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers from the Christian Life Movement (Christian Life Movement, CLM) and Solidarity in Motion, this reality is changing. They help ensure that the elderly in various nursing homes across Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia do not spend these days alone. Instead, they receive a gift, a hug, and celebrate the birth of the Christ Child in the warmth of a home filled with hope and joy.
Volunteers with the elderly at Hogar San Lucas. Callao, Peru.
In this article, we share how the Christmas spirit is celebrated in different nursing homes across these countries during the days leading up to the grand celebration.
Hogar Santa Rita in Argentina
Fr. Adrián Meza celebrating Mass with volunteers and elderly residents – 2023.
At Hogar Santa Rita in Buenos Aires, Argentina, over 40 elderly residents will participate this year in the traditional Christmas Mass, presided over by Fr. Adrián Meza. MVC volunteers visit this home regularly on Wednesdays, and as a result of this apostolic accompaniment, some residents have received the sacraments of Christian initiation.
Colombia: The Joy of the Novena
In Cali, Colombia, Casa de San José is preparing for a special Christmas Eve celebration, with Mass presided over by Fr. Alejandro Gallego on December 24th, followed by a festive lunch. This tradition includes a lovingly prepared menu, often made by a volunteer family who accompanies the elderly during the celebration.
From December 16th, the home is filled with joy as they celebrate the Novena to the Christ Child, with carols and moments of intense companionship. For the residents, the greatest gift is not feeling alone—the laughter, warmth, and love from so many volunteers become a treasured highlight.
Arequipa: The Mystery of the Missing Sheep
Every year at Hogar San Vicente de Paúl in Arequipa, Peru, a Christmas carol contest and Nativity play are organized, allowing residents to experience Christmas with joy. On Christmas Eve, some residents, including those in wheelchairs, are taken to Mass. On Christmas Day, they enjoy games, Christmas music, and a special lunch.
A heartwarming detail is the mysterious disappearance of the Nativity’s sheep, which are often found in residents’ pockets or pillows. “They say, ‘These are my sheep, and I’m going to shear them,’ because they’re made with wool,” shares Lucila Cabana, director of Hogar San Vicente.
“The happiness is visible in their eyes, filled with joy as if they’re reliving the Christmases of their childhood. They clap and thank God, saying, ‘Thank you, dear God,’” Lucila recalls.
Christmas at Hogar San Lucas
Visit of volunteers to Hogar San Lucas, Callao – Peru.
On December 15th, several volunteers celebrated Christmas with the elderly residents of Hogar San Lucas in Callao, Peru. One of the most special moments was the Nativity contest, where each resident, with the help of volunteers, created their own Nativity scene, reflecting on the birth of Jesus.
Volunteer Paola Siccha shared: “They taught me the joy of sharing, whether we have little or much. Despite adversities such as illnesses, disabilities, or other circumstances, the joy of the heart prevails when we bring love.”
The Christmas party was another joyful highlight, filled with dancing, laughter, and a festive lunch shared by volunteers and residents. Volunteer Edú Tecco Pérez expressed his gratitude: “I’m deeply thankful for this experience that combined the Christmas spirit, life lessons, and moments of joy.”
Elderly residents at Hogar San Lucas, Callao – Peru.
“Hogar San Lucas is a place where you learn to see life with hope despite your own challenges or difficulties. It offers a perspective that goes beyond the earthly and helps you value every step you take in the present. Ultimately, at San Lucas, we learn to give with a profound joy that is contagious and leads us to seek the Eternal,” shared Jeampier Aquino.
Ending the Year with Gratitude: Christmas at Fundación Las Rosas
Mass with residents of Fundación Las Rosas.
Finally, in Santiago, Chile, CLM volunteers visited Fundación Las Rosas last Saturday to celebrate Christmas with the elderly residents. During the event, volunteers gave each resident a personalized gift and accompanied them during an emotional Eucharist, which included the baptism of one of the home’s staff members.
Afterward, they shared a festive lunch with the elderly residents and gave small tokens of appreciation to the staff who care for them daily. It was a visit filled with joyful moments, allowing everyone to close the year with gratitude.