O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant.

Music blared through speakers as Pat Mifsud walked slowly through the Salvation Army gymnasium in Dearborn Heights. About 300 people sat at tables decorated with red and green balloons. Children ran around, eating popcorn or dipping pretzels into a chocolate fountain. Along the wall, hundreds of presents were waiting to be opened.

O come ye, o come ye, to Bethlehem.

Misfud, 43, stopped near the back wall. He blended into the background, almost by design -- wearing black pants, black shoes, a black shirt and black coat. There was no announcement of his presence. No public acknowledgment of what he had done. No one had any idea that he was the one who organized this party -- the limo rides and the dinner and the music and the trolley ride to look at the Christmas lights in Hines Park. Mifsud paid for most of it, about $10,000.

"To us, Christmas is a time of Christ's birth," said Cindy Mifsud, Pat's wife of 19 years. "But it's also a time to give to people."

When Pat Mifsud grew up on the west side of Detroit, his family was working-class poor. His father had emigrated from Malta, an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, and worked in a machine shop in Detroit. They had a place to live and food on the table, but money was tight. Life was complicated and difficult.

Pat Mifsud was one of four boys, and his mother struggled with a mental illness. On Christmas morning, he was lucky to find a single present under the tree.

"We wouldn't celebrate Christmas like normal people," he said.

After the holidays, he went back to school and lied about what he got for Christmas.

"It was an embarrassing time," he said.

'He wanted to do more'

Pat Mifsud started working when he was 10, doing a paper route. He got through high school and didn't have patience for college. He flipped houses for a while, anything to turn a buck. He was a workaholic determined to live a different life.

About 20 years ago, he started selling tickets to concerts and sporting events, putting together packages by renting limousines. He called his business Entertainment Express.

Eight years ago, he bought his own limo.

Now, the business is thriving. Entertainment Express, on Telegraph in Dearborn Heights, has grown to 43 limos, ranging from town cars to buses and trolleys. On some nights, the company is hauling hundreds, if not thousands of people across metro Detroit to concerts or sporting events or bachelor parties or proms or weddings or funerals.

About 10 years ago, the Mifsuds adopted a couple of families for Christmas.

"But that wasn't enough," his wife said.

So he sponsored a few more families anonymously.

"He kept saying he wanted to do more," she said.

Last year, the Mifsuds of Dearborn Heights threw a party for 300 people at the Salvation Army. This year, with the help of friends and relatives and employees -- who did everything from wrap presents to serve food -- he did it again Thursday night, trying to make it even better. They got several businesses to donate food, including Mario's Restaurant and the Roostertail.

Shrek's his favorite

The families who attend are chosen by area churches and community centers.

"I feel like those kids are me," Pat Mifsud said. "I see myself in them. I guess I'm reliving my childhood through them."

And that's why, one night before the party, he was at Toys "R" Us picking up a few more toys.

One caught his eye -- a Shrek Stretch 'n Scream action figure. He had to buy it. He took it home and played with it, excited to give it away.

Santa walked through the door and about 15 children rushed up to him, grabbing his coat and tugging on his white beard.

Once again, Pat Mifsud stood against the wall without saying a word. He didn't smile. He kept working to make sure everything went smoothly.

The Mifsuds' three children took different roles: Katie, 17, dressed up as Santa's helper and handed out gifts; Patrick Jr., 14, greeted people at the door, and Anthony, 8, made little bags for everyone.

His gift is a blessing

Larry Anquetil, 35, of Dearborn was at the party with his wife and five children. He used to drive a tow truck, but he's been unemployed for six months.

"This party is a tremendous blessing to our family," he said.

The unemployment checks stopped Dec.12. Heather Anquetil, Larry's wife, didn't tell her children about the party until the limo picked them up in case it didn't happen.

"We try not to tell them too much, so they aren't disappointed further," she said. "But the Lord has provided."

Phyllis Edwards, the executive director of the Madison Community Resource Center, brought about 200 people to the party. Many didn't open their presents, saving them so they would have something to open this morning.

"This party means there is a God, there is a Santa," she said. "It has really made a big difference in the community."

She said Pat Mifsud is helping more people than he could ever imagine: "He has given children a Christmas they will never ever forget."

Tamonica Keyes, 24, of Detroit sat at a table with her three small children.

"This has been the worst year of my life," Keyes said. "The father of my oldest two kids moved to Florida, and the father of my 3-month-old baby died when I was two months' pregnant. This means so much, to see my kids get in a limo, smiling and happy. This made me feel so much better."

At the other end of the room, Bobby Howard Jr., 10, opened a present.

"It's a scooter!" he screamed.

As the party ended, Shanika Jones of Detroit carried her son, Jaylen, 1. He didn't have a present because he wasn't expected to be there.

"Pick one," Pat Mifsud told Jones, pointing to a table of extra toys that weren't wrapped.

Jaylen pointed at the Shrek doll.

Pat Mifsud stood back, smiling wide and long -- the first time all night.

"The most exciting thing was watching that kid pick my toy," he said beaming. "I love that little toy."

A few minutes later, after all the families went on a trolley ride, volunteers cleaned up. Pat Mifsud talked to Santa.

"I think everybody enjoyed your party," Santa said.

Pat Mifsud smiled. He went outside and started arranging the limos to make sure everybody had a ride home.

Trying to make it perfect.

Trying to give something he never got.