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SOUTH BOSTON ONLINE

THURSDAY DECEMBER 25 2025

VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74

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Santa’s Helpers

undreds of South Boston families a nd r e s i d e nt s received meals from the annual Msgr. Thomas J. McDonnell and Frank Kelly Christmas Dinner, hosted at Saint Monica’s.

Dedicated volunteers make this all possible. Some volunteers helped cook and serve the meals;

Merry Christmas

others went through the line and got containers filled with food; and still others delivered the meals. Over 650 Christmas dinners sent out, according to Dan Manning and Marissa Walsh. It’s a true reminder of what makes South Boston so special — neighbors showing up for one a not her.

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he students in SBCA Early Childhood Program truly got their families and teachers into the Christmas Spirit, by doing such a fantastic job singing at their EEC Christmas Concert. Their songs included…I’m a Little Snowman, Jingle Bells, Silent Night and We wish you a Merry Christmas. Then the Early Childhood Program Director, Mrs. Kara Murphy, complimented and thanked all the

K0 and K1 students for doing such a great job singing and thanked the students’ families, teachers, aides, their Music Teacher, Mr. Carlo Bunyi and EEC Aide, Mr. Ryan McLean, for helping the children prepare for their Very Special Christmas Concert.

The students at SBCA in Grades K2 to 6th also did an outstanding job at their two Special Christmas Concerts.

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A Concert by the Fourth Church’s Choir: The Best Yet!

by Rick Winterson

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he Fourth Presbyterian Church performed its muchanticipated annual Choir Concert, led by Co-Pastor Burns Stanfield.

Stanfield is an extremely talented

musician – a pianist, composer, song writer, performer (even on a harmonica), and director of the Fourth’s Choir. For several years, he was a successful professional musician before answering the call to his religious vocation.

The Concert lasted for a joyful hour

and a half, and it featured an incredible variety of religious songs and hymns, focused upon the upcoming Holy Day of Christmas, of course. We won’t list every one of songs rendered, but the Choir’s talents were never more obvious.

Some of the religious hymns about the Virgin Mary had a gracefully exact

Merry Christmas

From Senator Nick Collins & Family

Medieval sound. Familiar 20th Century Christmas songs were improvised and interpreted by the soloists, resulting in medleys having a softly rendered, modern jazz sound. From “glad tidings” to “kumbaya”, the words in the lyrics brought the meaning of Christmas to life. A five-member contingent from the Fouth’s Youth Choir wowed everyone there. Many of the solos, including a high-voltage black spiritual, brought the audience to their feet with applause We would be remiss if we failed to mention the instrumentalists who accompanied the Choir. Rev. Burns played an expert piano, of course. Other instruments included a soprano saxophone (shades of Sidney Bechet!), a trumpet, guitars, baritone saxes, violins that doubled as “country fiddles”, and rhythmic timpani. The Concert closed just after dark with a very meaningful candle-lit finale, during which the audience joined the Choir in singing Christmas songs.

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Reenacting A Nativity Scene

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he 6th Grade students at South Boston Catholic Academy did a marvelous job Reenacting the Nativity Scene for all the

students and teachers at SBCA. The Nativity Scene, also known as a Crèche or Manger Scene, is a visual representation of the birth of Jesus Christ. It typically includes

key figures such as Mary, St. Joseph, and the infant Jesus, along with shepherds, angels, and the Magi (aka…the 3 wise men/kings/ astrologers, who followed the Star of Bethlehem to find and honor the new king, baby Jesus). The scene is often set in a stable or cave, reflecting the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth. St. Francis of Assisi

started the tradition of Nativity Scenes in 1223 to help people experience the wonder of the first Christmas. A Special Thank you, to all our talented 6th Graders, for their adaptation of Jesus’ birth and to their Teacher, Ms. Faith Smith, for preparing and directing them through the different scenes of this Nativity Reenactment.

From Stephen, Caroline, Kristen and Council President Ed Flynn

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Santa’s Helpers at the Annual Msgr. Thomas J. McDonnell and Frank Kelly Christmas Dinner

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Plumbers & Gasfitters Donate 200 Bicycles to City Children Bikes purchased and built by plumbers given to Boston public housing kids for Christmas

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undreds of city kids living in Boston public housing will have a brighter Christmas thanks to kind-hearted members of Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 12 of Boston who donated 200 bicycles to the Boston Housing Authority for the holidays.

“This is our way of giving back,” Local 12 Business Manager James Vaughan said. “Our members live in these communities and we are grateful we have jobs and resources to help others. At Christmas time, there is nothing more rewarding than being able to give back and make the holiday special for a child. Thanks to all of our members for helping out with this important and fun holiday event.”

Dozens of members of Local 12, the largest plumbers union in Massachusetts, recently participated

in the union’s first-ever Build-aBike charity event, gathering at the Dorchester union hall to assemble 200 bikes that were donated to the Boston Housing Authority.

The bikes were delivered to kids living in BHA properties over the past few days by members of Local 12 and BHA workers.

The children’s bikes and helmets were purchased at Ashmont Cycles in Dorchester for $70,000, which was raised at the

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

State Representative David Biele

recent Local 12 golf tournament.

Among the Local 12 members who helped in the Build-a-Bike event were: James Vaughan, Joseph Kyne, Rick Carter, Darren MacDonald, Frank Amato, Harry Brett, Thomas McCarthy, Tim Fandel, Andrew Fontana, Patrick Vaughan, Michael Vaughan, Ray Chandler-Melancon, Sean Glennon, Dean Renzello, Anthony Iannalfo, Andrea Turner, Patricia Canning-Williams, Michael Amato, Patrick Doolan, Harry Carter,

Benjamin O’Brien, Andrew Devlin, Harry Hennessy, Marc LaSala, Claudio M. Betencourt Rodriguez, Matt McGonagle, Ryan Baker, Finn Harrington, Craig Regan, Loretta Lennon, Cillian Collins, Chris Brett, Michael Picariello, Timothy Bouzan, Chris and Summer Redfearn, Malek Ferhani, Lawrence Garside, Aarin Garside, Vivian Garside, Carl Gravenkemper, Thomas Nguyen, Paul MacPhee, Patrick Dean and Franklin Marcelo.

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Memory Care Residents Visited By South Boston Special Kids and Young Adults For Holiday Crafts, Comfort, and Joy

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ompass on the Bay Memor y Support A s si s t e d Living welcomed young adults from South Boston Special K ids and Young Adults (SBSK) for some holiday wreath-making, carolling, and dancing to get into the holiday spirit SBSK

is a local nonprofit creating community and support for individuals with disabilities in South Boston, MA. Compass, one of Boston’s only communities 100% dedicated to those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, wa s the perfect setting for this cozy holiday

Sunday – Last Day of Hanukkah

On Sunday evening, December 21, the eighth and last day of Hanukkah began. Hanukkah is a week-long Jewish Holiday that celebrates the Maccabaeus brothers’ victory over the Greeks in ancient Israel.

A table of delicious and symbolic foods is the centerpiece of the Hanukkah celebration. It contains latkes (potato pancakes) with all kinds of toppings, along with many desserts. Here in America, Hanukkah desserts include jelly doughnuts and sweet sugar cookies (with frosting). We wish our Jewish friends a peaceful and Happy New Year. On the ancient Jewish calendar, this is the Year 5786.

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Continued from page 1 Merry Christmas Their songs included…It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, The First Noel, 12 Days of Christmas and Feliz Navidad.

Our Principa l, Dr. Civian, complimented and thanked all the students, for doing such a wonderful job singing/ performing at their concerts and thanked the students’ families, teachers, aides and their Music

Teacher, Mr. Bunyi, for helping prepare the children for their Very Special Christmas Concerts.

On behalf of our Pastor, Father Casey, our Principal, Dr. Civian, our EEC Director, Mrs. Murphy, our 6th Graders and all of us at SBCA… Merry Christmas to All from All of us at SBCA! New families are welcome to email our Admissions Team at admissions@ SBC at holic Ac ademy. org for more information.

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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hink about how many times during t his mont h of December you’ve received (and returned, of course) greetings of “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”? Greetings that are broadcast in the media, posted in store windows, and spoken to you by your family and friends. Think about Christmas as more than just a single day. The “Christmas Season” is here! It lasts from Thanksgiving Day, through Black Friday and four Advent Sunday celebrations, up to Christmas Day itself today, December 25.

And there’s no question that you’ve been thinking about Christmas gifts. This is a tradition that stems from Matthew’s Gospel story about the Magi – often called “the three Wise Men”.

Yes, they brought three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, but in his Gospel, dear Matthew the Levite didn’t specify how many Magi there were. Who knows?

Perhaps more than three Wise Men showed up at the manger.

Think about the many customs that have become connected to Christmas Day. One of them involves St. Nicholas.

Colonial Dutch settlers from Holland established themselves in Manhattan and observed St. Nicholas Day each December 6 by secretly leaving gift bags at neighborhood front doors, and then filling their children’s wooden shoes with candy and toys. “St. Nicholas”

in Dutch is “Santa Claus”. Due to Clement Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas” and to the cartoons by Thomas Nast in the 1800s, Santa Claus soon became an integral part of our Christmas celebrations.

Both Moore and Nast depicted him as a chubby, bearded man wearing red clothes trimmed with white fur who brought Christmas gifts worldwide by sleigh.

Other Christmas traditions we’ve adopted include the Christmas tree, the Yule log, and mistletoe. In the 1800s, Queen Victoria of England married Prince Albert from the part of Europe that eventually became Germany.

Albert missed his forest lands, so Victoria set up a huge tree for him in their palace during their first Christmas together. Needless to say, large ceiling-height Christmas trees are now the thing in America.

The long Yule log in winter fireplaces is a custom in Scandinavia, especially Sweden.

What would Christmas be without a Yuletide fire in the fireplace? And mistletoe was originally a tradition in Gaelic Ireland and Scotland – we’ll say no more. Be aware of how we’ve created many of our own traditions during this time of the year. Just think about Kwanzaa.

And did you realize that this year, Hanukkah – the Jewish feast of regaining religious freedom in Jerusalem – begins at sundown on Wednesday night, December 25?

Remember, Christmas is a religious Holy Day that has remained very, very holy. Think about the fact that part of the holiness of Christmas means concern for our fellow men and women on Earth.

We give to others at Christmas – gifts, food, money, prayers, best wishes, courteous greetings, and whatever else we can spare. That’s a key part of its spiritual meaning – giving is the true Spirit of Christmas.

Please think about that first and foremost as you celebrate. And be sure to have yourself a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION Docket No.

GITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION

SU25P2828EA

Estate of: Jodi Lee Mullins

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Suffolk Probate and Family Court 24 New Chardon Street Boston, MA 02114 (617)788-8300

Date of Death: 03/19/2019

To all interested.persons: A Peti)ion for Late and Limited Formal Testacy and/or Appointment has been filed by William J Mullins

of

Boston

MA

requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition.

The Petitioner requests that: William J Mullins

of

Boston

MA

be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before:

10:00 a.m. on the return day of 01/21/2026.

This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you.

UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration.

WITNESS, Hon. Janine D Rivers, First Justice of this Court.

Date:

December 17, 2025 Stephanie L Everett, Esq .. Register or Probate

SIGN UP FOR OUR MAILING LIST! The City of Boston’s Planning Department will be sharing updates and engagement opportunities with the public online and via email beginning in 2026.

Please subscribe to our mailing list following the QR code or link included here if you would like to receive regular updates about planning and development in Boston.

Website: bosplans.org/GetInvolved

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@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

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THURSDAY DECEMBER 25, 2025

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