Christmas – the word alone is enough to conjure up a wave of childhood memories; different memories depending on our family traditions and favourite rituals.
For the majority, this is a time inextricably linked to family. Yet for those who have grown up in residential care, Christmas can be very different
I recently visited St Patrick’s Residential Home in Sliema and found Fr Jeremy Vella, Assistant Head of Care, happy to satisfy my curiosity.
As the practice of residential care has moved away from the traditional model of institutionalised accommodation towards a smaller, more family-oriented setting, St Patrick’s has been updated. The new set-up consists of four houses each accommodating eight boys aged from eight to 16. Each house has a male and female carer simulating a family environment.
In the spirit of emulating a family environment, each house has its own set of customs and traditions which evolve through the individual interests of the group within that house. Thus, while all will have an Advent wreath, ‘gulbiena’ and crib, the hows and wherefores vary from house to house.
Only approximately half the boys at the residential home attend St Patrick’s School – the rest are educated at various Church and State schools, thus avoiding the insularity that existed in the past. This also means that in the run up to Christmas, the boys are all taken up with their own school Christmas activities. Needless to say, this hustle and bustle does nothing to diminish the anticipation of the annual tour to view a selection of cribs on display.
Despite the staff’s best efforts to make St Patrick’s as homely as possible, the truth is that, where possible, the boys would rather be with their own families especially during the holidays. So it is not surprising that the place is near empty on December 25 – indeed, members of staff go out of their way to ensure that all the boys are out for Christmas lunch. If they cannot spend the day with relatives or a contact family, they are invited to spend the day with the family of a member of staff they may be particularly attached to.
Children living in care undoubtedly have a more challenging childhood than most, so perhaps it is hardly surprising that for many of these boys, the best part about Christmas is the Nativity. The notion of a very special Child born in poverty and hardship resonates in the hearts of children whom Fr Vella describes as "society’s hidden treasures."