HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-12-20, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012. PAGE 15.
Central Huron Councillor Marg
Anderson is usually in a very giving
mood during the holidays, but she’ll
have to adjust slightly this year.
“I’ve always shopped for all my
kids at Christmas and this is the first
year that I’ll only be buying for two
people,” Anderson said. “That’s still
going to be hard for me.”
Anderson had always bought gifts
for everyone in her family, but as the
family has expanded, the family has
devised a system where people
wouldn’t go broke buying gifts for
the entire family.
One thing she is looking forward
to, however, is going to be shopping
for her grandchildren.
“I love shopping for my
grandchildren, maybe a little too
much,” Anderson said.
This year things will be different
though. Until now her grandchildren
have all been girls. This is the first
year that she has a grandson to buy
for.
“It’ll be nice looking for little
trucks and tractors,” she said.
Anderson says she’s simply
looking forward to spending time
with her grandchildren over the
holidays, as she does every year.
“I love playing with them and the
toys they got for Christmas,” she
said. “When they get their gifts
they’re so happy. They figure that
they must have been good over the
course of the year.”
While she will have to change her
gift-buying tendencies this year, one
tradition that has been in her family
for decades will be upheld once
again.
Anderson and her family has
always attended midnight mass. She
travels to Blyth to pick her mother
up and they go to midnight mass
together, usually bringing
Anderson’s daughter Amanda along
as well.
Anderson and her mother used to
attend midnight mass in Blyth (at the
now-closed St. Michael’s Catholic
Church, which held its final service
on Christmas Eve, 2004). Anderson,
who was raised in Blyth, then began
attending midnight mass at St.
Joseph’s Catholic Church in Clinton,
which is also now closed.
The group now makes its way to
Seaforth and St. James Parish for
midnight mass, although there was
one year that mass was held at St.
Anne’s Catholic Secondary School
in Clinton.
Anderson says she remembers
going to midnight mass for “forever”
and that it’s just been something that
her family has always done.
Going to church in Blyth when she
was a child is a memory that has
always stuck out, Anderson says,
because it showed her a real sense of
community and it was fun for her.
“I always liked going to church,”
she said. “Back then you had to be tothe church really early or you didn’tget a seat.“On Christmas Eve there were as
many non-Catholics there as there
were Catholics, everybody just came
out. It was a real community event.”
When she was younger, Anderson
remembers that her family would
have “all kinds of company” over on
Christmas Eve, including one
special guest.
“Santa always came by for a visit
and asked us what we wanted for
Christmas and asked if we had beengood boys and girls during the year,”Anderson said. “Then we’d go tomidnight mass and by the time we
got back Santa had visited our house
and gifts were there waiting for us.”
One particular Christmas from her
youth stands out, says Anderson,
when her older brothers gave her a
live pony for Christmas.
“They weren’t shy, they brought
[the pony] right into the house,” she
said. ‘We fed it sugar out of an
ashtray.”
By Rachel Robinson
This week at St. Anne’s Catholic
Secondary School the students got
to take a break from their academics
and participate in the annual semi-
formal dance which was hosted by
the St. Anne’s Student Cabinet on
Friday, Dec. 14. The theme of the
dance this year was “Suit-Up”.
Everyone had a great time and
looked super!
On Tuesday, students from St.
Mary’s in Goderich were welcomed
to St. Anne’s to experience a day in
the life of a St. Anne’s student. The
St. Anne’s Mathletes also
participated in the third math
contest of the year. On Thursday, St.
Anne’s hosted a Home and Away
Coffee House for our partner
high school, St. Michael’s in
Stratford and then artists travelled to
St. Michael’s in Stratford to
perform.
On Friday, the Nordic Ski team
also participated in its first Nordic
ski meet of the year at Duntroon Ski
Club in Duntroon, Ontario.
Our Advent Campaign wrapped
up and we are so grateful to
everyone who donated items to help
others. Over 300 coats will find their
way to our Aboriginal brothers and
sisters in Northern Ontario and lots
of baby clothes will be donated to
local moms in need. Way to go
Eagles!
We’re excited to welcome the
students from Catholic Central in
London next week for our Advent
Mass and can’t wait for the staff
versus Student Cheer Off at our
Christmas Assembly next Friday.
St. Anne’s concludes campaign
Anderson recalls memories of midnight mass, ponies
Spending some family time
Central Huron Councillor Marg Anderson and her husband Jim value time with their family
(especially their many grandchildren) above all else during the holidays, as this picture taken
just a few years ago depicts. (Photo submitted)
John, Rick, Jeff
& Staff
ELLIOTT NIXON
INSURANCE BROKERS INC.
a member of HIMG
There is no time more fitting to say “Thank You” and to wish you
a Happy Holiday Season and All the Best in the New Year!
Doug & Jodie Ruston
37117 Blyth Road, Goderich
519-524-9878
Season’s Greetings
BLYTH PRINTING INC.
BLYTH
519-523-9211
Wishing all our customers and friends
a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful
New Year!
Wishing all our customers and friends
a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful
New Year!
BLYTH
519-523-9211
From all the staff
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Get information
on Huron County
attractions on the
Stops Along The Way
section of our website
www.northhuron.on.ca