The season of giving
The generosity of the St. Willebrord Parish family gives life and hope to so many. Being generous is both a sign of life within the family as well as an animating feature of it. We find life by giving ourselves away! Jesus said: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?” (Matthew 16:25-26).
Our parish has already begun the activities and invitations associated with The Giving Tree. As most of you know, we usually “adopt” about 50 families, including 150 children, for whom we provide age-appropriate gifts, as well as food and household supplies. We distribute these packages from the parish around the middle of December. Some of you may have already begun shopping for the children when you took an ornament from the tree with the description of a child – age, size, need. THANK YOU!
We will need and will welcome cash gifts as well. There are special envelopes for such gifts and the envelopes can be placed in the collection baskets, or the donation box across from the Gathering Space, or even in the slot for candle money near the Pieta statue. The special envelope only goes for the one cause – The Giving Tree. With that money we can buy the food (chicken and/or turkey, potatoes, flour, rice, beans, etc.) as well as gifts for the children whose gift ornaments had not been fulfilled.
It is the season of giving and we do hope that you can be generous. You may also make special donations for Christmas flowers and decorations. There are special envelopes near the bulletins. We will also accept year-end donations which can benefit your tax burden. And of course, if you wish to make a special donation which you designate or “restrict” for repair of the church ceiling or church roof. Put such a donation in an envelope and write on the envelope or add a note inside about the reason for which you are making the donation. We will begin a designated fund which will be used for such repairs. As I noted in last week’s article, we will likely need to raise funds for three repair projects – church ceiling, church roof, and church pews.
In the meantime, may we be aware that we are already a church, the People of God, the Body of Christ at St. Willebrord Parish. We have a building in which we want to worship and praise God. It needs repair. We, the Church, need strength and perseverance. God provides!
Peace, Fr. Andy