Christmas celebrations for the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division are looking different this year, due to the pandemic.

Darcie Lich, GSCS Learning Services Coordinator, says Christmas concerts, liturgies, food hamper collections, and caroling would typically be some of the activities going on. The school division was even set to take part in the Noon Festival of Carols and the 63rd Knights of Columbus Carol Festival. Lich explains this year schools are still finding creative ways to mark the time of year and the story of Christ’s birth is still theirs to tell, despite the pandemic. Instead of a play in a gymnasium Lich says students are recording audio theatre like radio dramas or radio plays. Rather than gathering at their parish for liturgy, Lich explains, some students are self facilitating their own liturgies or livestreaming with their pastors.

Christmas food hampers and non-perishable donations have turned into money collections during the holiday season, while Lich says some students are putting together powerpoints for their families, to tell the Christmas stories in their own words.
Lich suggests with Advent meant to be a time of patient waiting and introspection, and with current government COVID-19 restrictions, in some ways it is helping schools to recognize and reclaim ways to situate themselves during the Christmas season.