This weekend begins the Advent Season, a time of reflection on our faith lives and a call to renewal in faith—especially how we live out our faith each and every day.

As you enter the Church this weekend you will see our traditional Christmas trees decorated with the Advent Giving Tree envelopes which will enable you to make an offering to support one or both of our two main charities, the Malta House of Care and Neighbors in Need.  As you know, the Knights of Malta and their Mobile House of Care comprise mobile health care vans—medical treatment rooms—complete with doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to diagnose, treat and offer compassionate care to those who have no access to medical insurance and medical care all free of charge. Going right to the people in their own neighborhoods, these medical professionals and their mobile medical centers not only provide diagnosis and treatment from ills, such as diabetes and women’s health issues to high blood pressure and so much more including referrals to doctors and surgeons at Saint Francis Hospital—but also serve to alleviate the abuse of the emergency rooms at local hospitals by treating patients before things get to that critical level. Since 2011 our parish has supported the Knights of Malta through this Advent Giving Tree to the tune of over $238,000.00!

And our Advent Giving Tree program also supports our parish’s own Neighbors in Need, to support local Simsbury and Farmington Valley residents who find themselves in difficult situations needing help with food, utility bills, rental assistance or even auto repairs and other devastating emergencies. Through your past generosity we have helped people with one-time emergency needs, providing care for sick children and elderly residents to longer-term concerns when people are terminally ill and find they are without family or friends to help. While we don’t often think of people in our own community being in need—facing ill health or hard times—they are among us and they are in need. There but for the grace of God—and your support—go us!

Again, I wish to thank you in advance for your support and prayers as we enter into the Season of Advent. Our Advent Giving Tree program runs from December 1 through January 6, 2020.