SEATTLE – Laughter rose from tables at St. Anne Parish’s Banchero Hall Dec. 12, where young families, groups of teens and longtime parishioners shared the joy of Christmas with their neighbors in need and people experiencing homelessness.

“After two years of the pandemic, people were genuinely connecting, across age and social-economic status,” said Kendra Reiser, a new parishioner who served as this year’s volunteer coordinator.

“I just think that is wildly special,” she added, noting the dinner for some 100 guests “was one of the most intergenerational community events I’ve seen in two years.”

Tables in Banchero Hall at Seattle’s St. Anne Parish are set with place mats made by students at the parish school and red poinsettias as a tribute to one of the dinner founders, Nancy Moriarty, who died in August. (Courtesy St. Anne Parish)

As a tribute to Nancy Moriarty, a dinner founder who died in August, red poinsettias adorned each table, Reiser said. During the event, members of Moriarty’s family spoke of her decades of devotion to the dinner, she added.

Joan Moeller, another founder who is in her 80s, said it has been a “blessing” to help others by hosting the dinner, adding that it is a “feel-good” event for the parish.

“People love to be involved in this event,” she said. “Everybody wants to be involved.”

Reiser said volunteer opportunities for the dinner filled quickly. Volunteers included people who have been parishioners for many years as well as first-time volunteers.

“There’s a shared responsibility St Anne’s feels about doing our share as Catholics,” Reiser said.

St. Anne parishioners sort and wrap donated gloves and socks for guests from the community who will attend the Seattle parish’s annual Christmas dinner. (Courtesy St. Anne Parish)

The dinner is an effort of the entire parish community, according to Taniele Tucker, director of discipleship.

Students at the parish school drew pictures and wrote messages on place mats used to set the tables. Parishioners collected and hand-wrapped gifts of socks and gloves for guests, donated food, served the meal and joined guests at the tables. The parish choir sang carols, and the parish’s middle school students served beverages and helped with cleanup. In addition, the parish collaborated with O’Dea High School to provide bus transportation for some guests.

Students at St. Anne School in Seattle decorate place mats for their parish’s annual Christmas dinner for the community. (Courtesy St. Anne School)

“We have good parishioners at St. Anne, and the young people are so willing to step up,” Moeller said, noting that the involvement of many young adults this year was a prayer answered.

“We are really excited to keep this up and (have) the spirit continue,” Tucker said.

“Hopefully it will carry on for another 40 years,” Moeller added.