A number of years ago a small get-together at Karen and Bill Carew’s home with neighbors and friends—parishioners at St. Catherine—began something amazing by way of helping others. This week, what began with buying food and toys for children and families at Christmastime has evolved into a very substantial fundraising event raising annually more than $50,000 at Advent and Christmastime to support healthcare for the vulnerable in Greater Hartford and to help Neighbors In Need right here in our own backyards—all thanks to you, our
parishioners’ magnificent generosity.

This week alone, I have had the ability to provide help to local Simsbury residents including our parishioners who are in need in various ways:

• A single mother in need working part time though searching for full time work was in need of food to make it to the end of the month and some propane fuel to heat her home and hot water for her and her son. You came to her aid;

• A single dad with his 10-year old son, who has a mountain of debt and had to move him and his son to his mother’sapartment, was concerned there was no way he could provide for a Christmas present or even to help out with food for the month. Your support of the Neighbors In Need fund helped with Stop and Shop gift cards and a Walmart gift card. Besides that, a husband and wife provided this dad with a gently used Xbox, numerous games, and $200 infinancial support. It will be a Merry Christmas for sure;

• A family of four—mom, dad, and two children—are in the midst of medical and financial troubles—the immediate need was for food and thanks to our parishioners I was able to provide this family with a comfortable level of Stop and Shop gift cards to help fill their refrigerator or pantry; and, as I mentioned last Sunday this family is facing banking issues with their mortgage. A very kind parishioner has stepped forward to help work with them regarding their arrears.

I write this report certainly not to brag or to promote our parish, but rather to highlight the true needs right here in our community. As people continue to search for full time employment in a very difficult economy hope can sometimes be lost—and Christmas is the Season to inspire Hope in Christ and His promise of salvation. No toys, food or fuel will satisfy that need but they will illustrate that “we” are not alone, people care—and that is the seed of Hope. In the TV animation Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winter Warlock, dancing to the song Put One Foot In Front of the Other, asks the question if he can “vote to be reborn?” While we can’t “vote” for rebirth, Christ does offer us rebirth to eternal life by “Counting us worthy to minister to You…’ in the way we serve others in the name of God.

I want to thank you in advance for your support of this year’s Advent Giving Tree envelopes hung on the trees in the atrium and vestibule. As we all prepare to celebrate Christmas this year with our families and friends, may we count our
blessings for all that we have—and share some of those blessings with others in need. It is not the amount of the gift but the love with which the gift is given. Give thanks for the blessings in your life and give what you truly can to our Advent Giving Trees—and feel God’s joy a little more joy. Thank you!