On Friday, December 12, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (PHJC) hosted their annual Christmas at the Center (CATC) event in Cana Hall. This holiday celebration, which welcomes attendees of all ages, has been a beloved tradition within the community for over a decade. PHJC Sisters and members of the associate community volunteered their time to make the celebration special for all those who participated.

“When people think about coming to the Center at Donaldson, they are often thinking about adults coming to church,” Sister Deb Davis, PHJC said. “While that is indeed something we offer, we consider inviting people to continue their spiritual life with us and giving kids an intergenerational connection to be important as well.”

This year, CATC featured a wide array of activities, including several crafts. Attendees were able to decorate Christmas cookies, color ornaments, and use stickers to add some Christmas cheer to picture frames. They could also write letters to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas this year. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer dropped by to greet the kids and pose for photos with them.  The kids even had the opportunity to chat with Old Saint Nick himself and join him for a picture.

“It’s wonderful that we can bring the children here to learn about others who live with faith, hope, and love,” Sister Margaret Anne Henss said. “The concept of Santa isn’t just about giving gifts; it’s also about giving peace and love to one another, which is the most important part.”

Each young attendee was gifted a goodie bag that contained a coloring book, a PHJC “Holy Cow” stuffed animal, a MoonTree Studios sticker, and even a light-up tambourine. Each child was also given a walking reindeer toy after visiting Santa.

“We try to make this event festive for families that might be unable to have a really celebratory Christmas,” Sister Connie Bach, PHJC said. “The bags that each child receives when they come in contain flyers that share information about the different things that happen here. We’re here to give them a great Christmas celebration, while also trying to let them know what’s available if they want to come back for retreats or spiritual direction.”

Families could also join several PHJC Sisters in the Emmaus Café for an interactive reading of the Nativity story. The children followed along with the narrative, placing stickers of important people and objects in the provided books. For Sister Deb, Christmas at the Center is much more than just a conventional celebration of the holiday season.

“The focus on Jesus and bringing people closer to him is what I think about during Christmas time,” Sister Deb said. “It’s about Santa Claus, but it’s also about presence. Presents are nice too, but presence is the first and foremost.”

As we celebrate the joy of Christmas, the Sisters of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ are pleased to share a gift of song with you.

Experience the power of prayer and unity!

The Novena to Saint Katharina Kasper is a beautiful nine-day journey to grow closer to God and invite Saint Katharina’s intercession.

Together, we can make a difference, bringing healing to our world and peace to our hearts.

Start your Novena today and join people around the globe in prayer for justice and hope.

Download the booklet: Novena to Saint Katharina Kasper PDF 2MB

The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ continue to live out the charism of attentiveness and courage modeled by their foundress, Saint Katharina Kasper, who was canonized on October 14, 2018. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Associate Community of the congregation embraces this same charism, seeking to live with faith, service, and compassion in today’s world.

On Sunday, September 24, 2025, Sandy Garrison (Plymouth, IN), Jennifer Arndt (South Bend, IN), and Angela Harris (Donaldson, IN) made their formal commitment as members of the Associate Community during a special ceremony held in Ancilla Domini Chapel in Donaldson, Indiana. Surrounded by family, friends, fellow Associates, and members of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, these women publicly affirmed their desire to live according to the spirit of Saint Katharina.

Saint Katharina was known for her humility and her steadfast kindness, seeing every person as her neighbor and every encounter as an opportunity to share God’s love. Inspired by her example, members of the Spiritual Family of Saint Katharina seek to embody simplicity, community, dignity and respect for all, and openness to the Spirit. Together, the Associate Community and the Poor Handmaids partner to promote justice, peace, and care for creation, continuing the mission that began with Saint Katharina in 19th-century Germany.

We joyfully welcome Sandy, Jennifer, and Angela into this growing community of faith, service, and love.

On Saturday, November 15, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (PHJC) welcomed over 400 guests to the stunning Ancilla Domini Chapel for a performance of George Frideric Handel’s 1741 oratorio Messiah. The event featured conductor Andrew Jennings, Director of Liturgy and Music for PHJC, leading the Ancilla Domini Community Choir and Orchestra in a breathtaking interpretation of this timeless masterpiece.

The Messiah Concert, a free-to-attend bi-annual tradition, continues to be a cherished event for residents across Northern Indiana.

“It’s become a tradition for people to bring their families and friends,” Jennings shared. “It offers people the chance to step away from the busyness of life and experience something that might change how they view classical music. Even if they don’t speak to the person next to them, everyone is there for the same purpose. That shared experience helps form community, and I find that beautiful.”

The evening began with a VIP dinner featuring roast pork, roast chicken, pasta, vegetables, and cheesecake for dessert. The VIP guests were then ushered to their preferred seats in the chapel to await the concert. After Jennings’ opening remarks, the choir and orchestra performed 27 of Messiah’s 53 movements.

The performance showcased the talents of soprano Jessica McCormack, countertenor Joshua Boggs, tenor JR Fralick, and baritone Stephen Lancaster.

Jennings expressed gratitude to the event’s patron sponsors, including Nancy and Scot McKinnis, Taylor and Boody Organ Builders, Marian University, Rink Printing Company, Beacon Credit Union, and Split Road Media.

“I would like to thank, not only the Poor Handmaids, but also the sponsors who helped make this event possible,” Jennings said. “It’s very important to us to offer these concerts for free. We would never want a financial barrier to prevent someone from experiencing something like the Messiah Concert.”

The evening concluded with a warm reception in the Cenacle Dining Room, leaving attendees with a sense of joy, community, and appreciation for the beauty of sacred music.