About half of the 150 people attending the Indianapolis New Family Christmas Party were Burmese refugees, most of them parishioners at St. Pius X. In this mutli cultural gathering, the "language of love" overcame any barriers and made everyone feel welcome.

The local Focolare community made a variety of homemade soups, and brought warm clothing and toys for their Burmese friends. It has been over a year now since they arrived in Indianapolis and in that time have built friendship with the Focolare Community. They showed their appreciation through their smiles.

The Christmas video and meditation by Chiara Lubich was presented in both English and in Burmese. All the younger children participated in a Nativity pageant. The evening included games, a pantomined Christmas skit, and live music, including a duet and Burmese Christmas songs sang by the children.

The Indianpolis Focolare community, those who live near and those who came from afar, worked as one to prepare and conduct this party. The sense of being one family surely reflected the presence of Jesus among them.

Each year, the New Families of the Focolare in the Midwest hold Christmas Parties to prepare together for the birth of Jesus. This year the parties in the Chicago area, Appleton, Wi, St. Louis, MO, Columbus, OH, among others, brought out the joy and wonder of the Christmas season for all those who attended.