Sacred Heart Community Comes Together for Annual Holiday Luncheon
December 18, 2025
The gymnasium at Sacred Heart Catholic School was filled with the sounds of conversation, laughter, and holiday anticipation on December 18 as families gathered for the school’s annual special luncheon, a tradition that has become a meaningful part of the Sacred Heart community in the days leading up to Christmas.
Held twice each year, the special luncheon provides students the opportunity to sit down with parents, grandparents, and extended family members to share a meal inside the school. The event blends food, fellowship, and faith while also serving as a free-will donation fundraiser that supports the school’s nutrition program and ongoing efforts.
At the center of the tradition is Cathy Carney, head cook and nutritionist at Sacred Heart, who has overseen the event since taking over the kitchen in 2009. She explained that the luncheon has remained a priority because of the memories it creates for students and families alike.
“We’ve done this ever since I started in 2009,” Carney said. “Of course, with COVID, we couldn’t do it for a while, but it’s something that’s really special for the kids and their families.”
Carney noted that the luncheon typically serves around 200 people when accounting for students, staff, and visiting family members. Enrollment currently includes about 65 students, along with staff, but the turnout grows quickly as relatives join students at their tables.
“The parents, grandparents, family get to come and have them all together,” Carney said. “I think it’s great.”
The meal itself reflected a traditional, home-style holiday lunch. Families moved efficiently through buffet lines that included ham, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, and beverages, followed by cheesecake and fruit cocktail for dessert. Volunteers ensured the lines moved quickly, allowing families more time to sit together before students transitioned to afternoon activities.
The event relies heavily on community involvement, with parents and volunteers assisting in food preparation, serving, and decorating. Carney emphasized that teamwork is essential to making the luncheon successful.
“We have good staff,” she said. “We work together as a team. That’s the only way to do it.”
Students also play an active role, with fifth graders helping set up and take down tables, reinforcing a sense of shared responsibility and pride within the school.
The timing of the luncheon added to its significance, taking place just one week before Christmas. As tables filled and conversations flowed, the gymnasium reflected the close-knit nature of the Sacred Heart community, blending school, family, and tradition into a single afternoon.
Carney, who previously worked more than 22 years in the public school system before joining Sacred Heart, said she values the relationships and continuity the school provides. Now in her 16th year at Sacred Heart, she hopes to finish her career there.
“I’ll retire from here, I hope,” she said.
As families gathered, students enjoyed not only the meal but the opportunity to share their school environment with loved ones, reinforcing the connection between home and classroom. The luncheon once again demonstrated how Sacred Heart Catholic School continues to foster community spirit through simple but meaningful traditions built on service, cooperation, and togetherness.