Community Christmas Dinner

Not everyone has the opportunity of enjoying a hearty dinner surrounded by family on Christmas Day. Many people locally have no family in town or no family at all. Others are unable to afford a meal, especially for a family. And others, who serve our communities such as first responders, police officers, fire personnel, hospital staff, and correction officers may not get the opportunity to obtain a hearty meal. Local meal providers such as Meals on Wheels and the Warming House are not open that day. For all these reasons, the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels with our linked parish family of St. John the Evangelist, hold an annual Christmas dinner for the hungry, lonely, community workers and any others in need of a meal on Christmas day for any reason at all— no questions asked. The free dinner can serve up to 1,000 people. We will be serving take-out and home deliveries only—no in-person dining. With each complete ham dinner costing the parish roughly $12, monetary donations are vital. (We take donations on the Basilica website at Smaolean.org and the Parish Offices at the Basilica and St. John the Evangelist.) Also important are the volunteers who take time out of their Christmas schedules to help others in need by preparing food, driving home deliveries or cleaning up afterwards. Thank you!