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Our Lady of Sorrows students adopt senior citizens through Secret Santa program
FARMINGTON, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — The holiday season typically turns into the giving season, and that’s what Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School is doing this year, in years past, and in the future.
Each year, the school partners with a senior Secret Santa, and on Monday those gifts were delivered.
It’s all for the 50 and better crowd living in Farmington Hills.
Every year, Farmington Hills puts on the senior Secret Santa program, and for more than 30 years, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in Farmington has helped accomplish this by bringing joy and love to those who need it.
“It is special because it is in our mission statement to reach out, to have our children serve others in the community,” said Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School principal Katherine Ambrose. “It brings joy to them and helps them realize it is not just about them. It is about others, and they are following in God’s footsteps, Jesus’ footsteps, and helping those in need.”
Each classroom adopts a senior and buys them gifts ranging from blankets and pillows, cookies and candy, to household items. Whatever is on the list, the students will get it.
This year, the city will help 600 seniors with their wishlist, and hundreds of volunteers will help out.
Our Lady of Sorrows School is responsible for helping 40 seniors.
“I think it brings a special joy to our hearts because it is not just about receiving the gifts but giving of ourselves, time and talent and treasure to those who really don’t have such a bright Christmas and holiday season,” said Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School pastor Reverend Cannon Walter Ptak.
The leaders of the school’s National Junior Honor Society said it’s a thrill for them to help do this every year.
“It is a great opportunity for us to get them gifts that, for some people, they don’t get gifts often,” said student Rylee Bacall.
“I’m so passionate about it because I think it is really important to spread kindness and joy to others, and definitely as our missions as Catholics, I think it’s so important to make people happy because one card or just one gift can really brighten their day,” added student Sophia Karana.
The program has been going on for decades, and every year seems to get bigger and better.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei is likely to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, according to an Argentine diplomatic official. While his attendance has not been confirmed publicly, the official said all signs point to Milei traveling to Washington, D.C., for the swearing-in ceremony.
A spokesperson for the Trump transition team did not reply to a request for comment.
Milei, a Trump acolyte who was elected last year and describes himself as an “anarcho-capitalist,” on Monday posted on X a link to a news report and wrote “Make Argentina Great Again Make America Great Again,” adding a handshake emoji between U.S. and Argentine flag emojis.
Bloomberg News was first to report on Milei attending the inaugural, citing an Argentine government spokesperson.
Antonio Masiello / Getty Images
Milei is the first world leader expected to be in Washington for the Jan. 20 event, though arrangements are underway for others to join. CBS News reported last week that Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom Trump personally invited to the inauguration, was unlikely to attend, according to multiple sources.
Trump confirmed Monday that he has exchanged letters with Xi and would “love to have him [at the inauguration], but there’s been nothing much discussed” in terms of whether he’ll accept the invite.
Trump added that he has fielded calls from more than 100 world leaders since winning the election and, when asked specifically, said that he had not invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
State Department records dating back to 1874 show that no world leader has attended an American transfer-of-power ceremony. Traditionally, foreign ambassadors and their spouses represent their governments at the quadrennial event.
Milei met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago shortly after the November election.
Margaret Brennan and
contributed to this report.
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