Man reads to inspire others

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Jim Virgilio reads to residents at Royal Oaks Health Care and Rehab, with his father in mind.

It's his first Christmas without him.

"In memory of my father, James Virgilio, that died here at Royal Oaks in August and his memory and for his honor and because being around the people at the nursing home actually developed a love for the people in the nursing home," Virgilio said.

Virgilio reads the gospel there weekly.

Tuesday, it's the Christmas Story.

"We give gifts to each other because we love Jesus and we appreciate him coming into the world in the form of a man," he said.

One of these listeners is 94-year-old Henrietta Adams.
  
"We may not had a lot but we enjoyed it anyhow, I didn't miss out on anything. We had love in the family all the time," Adams said.

"As you know, it's been very much commercialized Christmas and it's very much a money thing now and so anything we can do to enforce the true meaning of Christmas, I think is very good and we all should do something," Virgilio said.

Virgilio plans on continuing the tradition throughout his life.

"As long as I have breath in my lungs," he said.

He works to deliver the true message of Christmas, hoping to inspire others to keep the spirit alive all year long.

"I just ask that we all just remember the meaning of Christmas and hold it in our hearts and carry it throughout the year, not just for a few days."

Virgilio also belongs to St. Benedict's Parish in Terre Haute.

He calls his ministry, 'Just the Word'.