In the Spirit of Fezziwig: A SSP Christmas Celebration

There’s a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. This one might be worth a few thousand smiles.

From left to right in this image, you’ll find three figures who represent the very heart of SSP Parish or School, not because of what they hold in their hands, but because of what they give with their lives.

On the left is Sharkey, our beloved school mascot, brought to life by one of the most dedicated volunteers in SSP's history. This is a man who doesn’t just volunteer; he invests. He runs an entire team of Fish Fry volunteers, helping keep our parish Fish Fry consistently ranked in the Top 5 in St. Louis during Lent. Beyond that, he has spearheaded countless improvement projects around our school and parish hall, often rolling up his sleeves and, at times, even digging into his own pocket, simply because something needed to be done. His generosity is quiet, steady, and unwavering.

Next to him is Mr. Nate, our incredible maintenance man and janitor, and so much more than a job title could ever capture. Yes, he beautifies our building daily, but he also coaches CYC sports teams, offers athletic form advice at a moment’s notice, and supports SSP organizations whenever there’s an event to make successful. Much of his help happens off the clock.

What stands out most about Mr. Nate is his appreciation for the little things. Every gift. Every handwritten card. Today, he even shared his gold-foil-wrapped chocolate coins with me, treating those candies like pirate booty, pure gold doubloons. And in his hands, they truly were. Mr. Nate loves life. He shares joy effortlessly. Few people know that he once had another possible path; he was an up-and-coming pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system in the 1960s, until a blown-out arm changed the course of his story. Yet there’s no bitterness there. Only gratitude. Only joy. Watching him and Sharkey light up our students’ day with their presence and small tokens of appreciation was a true Christmas gift in itself.

And the third fellow? That would be me, the proud principal of SSP School. If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know my affection for simplicity: a life without waste, a deep appreciation for handwritten notes, kind gestures, and small acknowledgments of a shared ministry. I believe those are among the greatest gifts the Creator bestows upon us.

Now, I’ll admit, this AI-generated image makes us look like we’re celebrating like rock stars, drinks in hand, as though we’ve just closed down a tavern. The truth is far simpler (and far better). We don’t drink around students, and we don’t need alcohol to celebrate life’s blessings. The joy you see here didn’t come from mugs or glasses—it came from connection, gratitude, and shared purpose.

Still, when I look at this image, I can’t help but smile. It feels as though we’ve stepped into one of Old Fezziwig’s Christmas celebrations straight out of a Charles Dickens novel—a time when joy was loud, laughter was full. Celebration was rooted in community rather than excess.

Wouldn’t it be something to reclaim that spirit? For a fleeting moment, it felt like we had.
And that is precisely what Christmas is meant to do.