The Star of Bethlehem in July

by Admin · Published December 24, 2015 · Updated December 8, 2020

In July, Jupiter and Venus converged in what has been called a Star of Bethlehem moment. For one development organisation it set the scene for a Christmas in July function for children from a poor suburb. KEVIN ROUSSEL, executive director of Catholic Welfare and Development reflects on that special day.

A Christmas in July function brought together 60 children at the CWD offices in Green Point, Cape Town.

On July 18 this year, across the night skies a momentous celestial alignment brought visibility to the Star of Bethlehem, the same star that led the Magi on their journey to Bethlehem to meet our Lord and Saviour at his birth.

The configuration of the sky we all know well from Nativity scenes so beautifully surrounded by the darkness of space with twinkling stars humbles us to recognise the glory of God. What a privilege to be alive in 2015 to see something that no one since the birth of Christ has seen, and a blessing to have the presence of God around us all the time.

On this day too, the presence of God and the work of Spirit was seen at the humble offices of Catholic Welfare and Development (CWD) in Green Point, Cape Town, when a Christmas in July function brought together 60 children.

Table Mountain National Parks built boardwalks, sand pits, painted buildings and, most importantly, planted life-giving trees, turning our existing centre into a flourishing living space for the children of the community.

The rangers were busy. Some had brought their own children who worked tirelessly on a cold rainy winters day to improve a centre for children whom they had never met. The love and care they put into the revamp was such as if they were improving their own homes.

The passion to do the work of God is similar to the Magi, driven by a sign in the sky. Throughout the month of July, CWD relived the famous journey of the Magi, watching as many who saw our star rise, seek and find our projects and like the Magi brought extraordinary gifts, in their time, skill and the many goods that were donated.

With the week that had gone by and all the blessings and miracles happening around us, the stage was set for the Christmas in July event. There is a rather embarrassing picture of the team in a moment of fun setting up the training room and forming a locomotion train with a drummer at the front, wearing reindeer antlers. I am sure they were moments when the Magi on their journey must also have worked beyond their own tiredness.

After meeting Herod they must have felt deflated and concerned, but they travelled on. Likewise, our team, working in the field of development, is always running a marathon, breaking physical limitations while uplifting our spiritual giftedness.

Like many other development organisations, our finances are restricted in the current climate, and being able to stay true to our work can be difficult when survival becomes the key driver. It must be what the Holy Family felt like when they were told to register for the census in Bethlehem, travelling without significant resources across a barren and hot country.

But the Holy Family, like the Magi and shepherds and many others, were driven by their love of God and their obedience to his will. This is a lesson which we have learnt at CWD, and our Christmas in July event was an example of doing so much with so little.

So here we were on July 18, the star of Bethlehem above us in the night sky and 60 children, half of them from our centre in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plein. Two days earlier they had been treated to a trip to the Two Oceans Aquarium. Only two of the children from Tafelsig had ever even left their suburb before.

The team managed to secure a magician and Danny the Dog from the Western Cape Traffic Department. The Salesians and a team of volunteers were there, too. Through a wonderful in-kind donation, every child was given a toy and sweet hamper on the day. Father Christmas made an appearance, and as our Christmas fell on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, the children were led in prayer as they said the Our Father and heard the Eid prayer.

Children were treated to entertainment and many fun competitions including egg-and-spoon races, wheelbarrows and at one point there were a group of children reliving the spirit of the 60s in a hoola-hoop competition.

Lunch and breakfast had been provided and there was enough left over for people to take home and share with their families. Even a momentous occasion comes to an end, with everyone travelling back to their homes and all the older people finally were able to find 67 minutes for themselves.

As the star of Bethlehem disappeared on July 19, we looked up to the stars in wonder at how much was made possible, and the joy we brought to the children this year because of the Love of God and sending his only Son 2015 years ago.