Hazel Fort, of the Savio Salesian College Chaplaincy Team in Bootle, reflects on a caring Advent. Above - the students Nativity play for pensioners.

After the fresh start in September, it seemed that we were just getting into the swing of things when Advent sneaked up on us and gave us a tremendous push into the hectic waters of Christmas preparation. It was sink or swim as we tried to juggle school exams with Advent and the hurly burly of Christmas.

Television adverts pushed impossible presents at impossible prices and cookery programmes told us of the exotic recipes we could prepare for our amazed guests at the parties we would be holding - if you were that way inclined and had begun ingredient shopping last August;

and just the tiniest amount of time was allotted to the homeless or those alone at Christmas. Here, at Savio, those people have always been our priority.

We chose JOSPICE and the SVP as our charities this Christmas. The School Council opted for the Whitechapel Centre. The latter two charities cater to the ignored in our society. Brother Lukasz and his team placed boxes in every form room and toiletries poured in from our students. The SVP give to those in the parish whose finances do not run to such luxuries as toiletries. The Whitechapel Centre does sterling work with the homeless: in there, a homeless person can have meals; bathe and wash their clothes; but, also, they can learn technological skills which enable them to face the future with confidence. Mrs Murphy organised Year 7 with £10 Challenges resulting in raffles, sales of cakes and a guess the Teddy's Name: all guaranteed to raise money for charity. We sold badges and held a Reindeer Romp to raise money for JOSPICE and the seriously ill people who would be in there over the festive season. The students' response to our appeals was, as always, overwhelmingly generous.
Now, there was only the annual Pensioners Christmas Party to organise. There are upwards of a hundred pensioners chosen from our feeder parishes. The hall is decorated and the pensioners are given a Christmas lunch and also a they have a raffle. How could we make this occasion even more special?

Last year, the Bosco Group had toured the school with a live crib, cards for all the staff and enthusiastic renditions of the most popular carols. Everyone enjoyed the youngsters walking about in Nativity costumes singing their hearts out.

Could we possibly do it again?

For the pensioners?

We wondered.

So, though many said Nativity scenes were for the Junior Schools, the Bosco Group gathered and Advent suddenly became manic!
The costumes from our summer games would do - except some had gone missing and Joseph had grown six inches! Out came a sewing machine long abandoned to the attic and material was cobbled from here and there to provide out fits for the innkeepers and shepherds.

That's right. Innkeepers.

'Room? Room?' shrieked innkeeper number one at Joseph as he served "wine" to the obliging audience. - Don't be funny!

The second innkeeper was furious at having mislaid a servant boy but, at least, spared the time to direct Mary and Joseph to the third innkeeper who was (gloatingly) 'sure to have room'.
The third innkeeper had no time for the desperate couple. He was too busy counting his crowd of customers and calculating his profits. His wife, however, was kindly and led them to a stable. On the hillside, outside Bethlehem, two small shepherds were wondering about the travelling star they had seen which had suddenly come to a halt- when angels appeared, scaring them silly. On receiving the news however, they decided to investigate. Thus, singing 'Away in a manger', the Nativity scene was recreated and the pensioners accompanied the singing with many oo-h's and ah's much to our actors delight.

Then it was the turn of our Senior Boscos: four of Year11 formed the 'Heavenly Tunes' singing group. In spite of exams before Christmas and mock exams after, Aleisha, Amy, Emily and Kieron gave willingly of their time and talents. We had begged their aid in singing the carols because it's hard singing and being a grumpy innkeeper so they had been a welcome addition to our Nativity. Ably tutored by Father Ruszniak, their set began with the haunting, 'O holy night'. After rapturous applause, they swung into 'Santa Claus is coming tonight', 'Jingle Bells' and 'Merry Christmas, Everyone.'
Here, on Merseyside, appreciation is shown by participation.

This audience rocked and sang with gusto. Four of them even got to their feet 'for a bop'.

Soon, it was all over. The pensioners cheered the Bosco Group who were bemused by their enthusiasm. They had not realised that one of the greatest gifts to be given was that of taking time to show you care.

The staff and students of Savio Salesian College hope you had a happy and holy Christmas and are looking forward to a New Year filled with peace and God's love.

Hazel Fort