Taking care of the Poor...

You have seen my articles in the Cook County Star and our newsletter about the prevalence of poverty in Cook County. As parishes we not merely need to be aware that so many are in distress, but in addition we need to do something about it. You will see in your pew an envelope marked Poor Fund and your gift will be added to our parishs’ Parish Care Fund, and will be used to help the needy of our parishes and community.

From Father Walsh… IT MAKES MY HEART GLOW! From Old Testament times to today people are called to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. And during Lent these three activities are emphasized even more.

This Sunday Gordon Lindquist will talk to us on how our parish, and a huge number of individuals and other churches of every denomination are helping to build a health center at the Nyakatsiro Mission in Uganda. The amazing thing about this venture is, that although is owned and staffed by a Catholic congregation of nuns, it is supported by people of many Christian traditions – and even no tradition. People are simply responding to a great need, and thereby living out our obligation to practice almsgiving – meeting the needs of the poor. I am very happy that our parishes are helping with this mission.

But in addition, we are also helping Michaela Peterson from Holy Rosary parish in her work, also in Uganda, and with the local Congregational Church, in Chiapas, Mexico. Since the beginning of this fiscal year last July 1st, our parishes have given almost $11,700 to needy families, individuals, and missions like Nyakatsiro, Michaela Peterson’s and Chiapas.

And so this morning (March 9th) we welcome Gordon Lindquist to a slide presentation downstairs during coffee time to tell what is happening in Nyakatsiro.