Our 36th Annual Parish Christmas Party will be on Saturday December 14, 2024. The Saturday Vigil Mass will be at 5pm and then the party will start after the mass, about 6pm. We will have wonderful food, drinks, and desserts! This year it is for adults only. The dress code is festive, holiday cocktail party attire.
Please see our Official Evite Invitation and RSVP with the number of people attending to give us an idea of the number for the caterer.
Catering by Catering Solutions, Chef Ron McMillan
Menu:
Tray Pass Hors d oeuvres
- Skewered Jumbo Poached Prawns with Classic Cocktail Sauce
- Mini Brioche with Mousse Crème Fraiche and Smoked Salmon
- Italian Meatball and Tortellini Skewer
Buffet
- Cheese & charcutiers grazing board imported and domestic cheeses, prosciutto di Parma, dried sausages and salamis, mustards, olives, French cornichons and rustic breads & crackers
- Grilled Vegetable Display
- Roasted Rosemary Baby Red Potatoes
- Lobster Mac and Cheese
Carving Station
- Balsamic Roasted Beef Tenderloin of Beef Served with Silver Dollar Rolls, Horseradish Sauce
- Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Served with Cranberry Chutney and Mustards
- Pan Roasted Wild Salmon
Assorted Holiday Desert Display
Donations will be accepted at the door.
Thank you to MJ Wittman of Fleuressence florists and events, at +1 (858) 333-2303, for donating her time and professional artistic talents towards decorating our parish tree and everyone who helped to decorate the Commons!
History of the Parish Christmas Party
In the early years of the founding of the parish there were 2 annual parties - a Christmas Party and Summer BBQ. These were very important social gatherings for the founding parishioners since there was no parish school at that time as the parish community was growing. The parish archives contain pictures of the parties dating back to the early 1990's. The first Parish Christmas Party is believed to have been held in 1987 at the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club, since the Church was under construction.
The earliest record of an official chair couple were Don and Toni Minarich. They did it until 2003 and passed it on along with a very specific and carefully crafted set of instructions that were the blueprint for the party for many years prior. Each year the party was evaluated and notes were kept for improvements in the coming year.
The earliest printed paper invite we have in the archives is from 1993, featuring specially commissioned artwork from artist and parishioner Pat Beck. Pat also created a fantastic and ornate large cardboard poster that is still used and a favorite memory of the early parties.
The concept of the party is a upscale holiday cocktail party with heavy Hors d'Oeuvers. Some of the hallmarks of the party include an entire room of desserts made by parishioners, fantastic catering, and dressing up in festive holiday cocktail party attire. In later years there were even best dressed contests awarding ribbons in different categories such as most elegant dress, craziest Christmas tie, ugliest Christmas sweater, and best Christmas spirit. The centerpiece of the party is the 12 foot tall Christmas tree. Hundreds of Parish Giving Tree Gifts for the less fortunate are also placed under the tree to add to the festiveness while keeping in the giving spirit of the season. It takes about 4 days to set up for the party as the Commons is completely transformed with decorations, tables, linens, wreaths, and ornaments hung from the chandeliers. Many parishioners see it as the highlight of their holiday season. The parish name is Church of the Nativity, or The Church of Christmas, so the Parish Christmas Party has been considered an important annual event.
After not being able to have a party in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Christmas Party was re-envisioned by the Pastoral Council in October 2021. The Parish Finance Council also re-approved the funding concept of the Christmas Party as a goodwill event for parishioners. The decorations for the large Christmas Tree in the Commons are also being replaced.
This history of the party is an ongoing development. If you have any history, stories or pictures from the early Parish Christmas Parties that should be included here please contact Mike James at mjames@nativitycatholic.org.
Pictures - Past Years
Movies - Previous Years