Second In A Series

By Msgr. Noel Burtenshaw

A lot of things happened suddenly when Ginger Gage planned her good deed for Christmas 1980. And all of them were super good.

Ginger is the young singles boss out at Holy Spirit and reaching the empty arms of poor children like a great big chubby Santa was her wish. It came true – and then some.

“Our singles group is small,” says this young pretty dynamo, “but marvelously motivated. The idea was really Ray Rerer’s, but we all want it to happen. It will be a great afternoon for the children.”

The invited little guests were chosen by EOA, an agency Ginger has worked with in the past. They chose children from the Dixie Hills neighborhood, a community greatly needing care and attention this Christmas. It was in Dixie Hills on the southside of Atlanta that young Layonya Wilson was murdered. She is one of Atlanta’s tragic children. The planned outreach of Ginger’s singles will come as a healing to this wounded community.

EOA agreed to bus the children out to Holy Spirit for the party. Presents, food and the bright decorations of the season were needed. The plan began to form and as the singles persisted in their efforts, the pieces fell into place.

“It will take place on Sunday, Dec. 14,” says Ginger “and the gifts will all be there. That morning our Sunday School will have a children’s Christmas liturgy, and in that liturgy each child will present a brightly wrapped gift at the altar for our little guests.” So Ginger finds that her outreach touches, not just those who need help, but her own little brothers and sisters in the parish. They will be beautifully and excitedly reminded that Christmas is to give – not just to get.

The Holy Spirit singles now had the problem of the food and the decorations. “We started to dig down into our own pockets,” says Ginger, “but our parish council insisted on having a part. They came across with the money.” So the hot dogs, the creamy cakes, the party hats and all the trimmings will be there, along with brightly wrapped gifts – everything to light up the lives of Atlanta children, who have known, to some degree, the shadow of terror.

“Miss Copeland of EOA has been wonderful,” says Ginger. “She organized the children of Dixie Hills and will help us make this day one of excitement for the children.” As Ginger Gage, whose brother, Father Phil, is a Marist priest in the West Virginia mountains, relaxes with her family on Christmas Day, she can be comforted that through her efforts, and the thoughtful planning of Holy Spirit Parish, one community of children reached out to another in this season that commemorates the gift of a Divine Child come on earth.

“There’s just one thing we need now,” said the enthusiastic Miss Gage to this interviewer with an impish grin. “Someone to act as Santa.”

Forget it, Ginger. No Way.