Each of these ornaments represents a Christmas wish list for an individual in need. Parishoners are asked to take one of these ornaments and bring back some or all of the requested items, wrapped and ready to send to the recipient. This year, recipients of the gifts will include children at Andrew's center, persons from Catholic Charities Community Services with developmental disabilities, AIDS, or traumatic brain injury. Other gifts are intended for seniors at Lakeshore Nursing Home and children at St. Bridget's parish. Still other gifts will find their way to children at Lakeside Church Development Center, the Problem Pregnancy Center, the Prison Outreach Ministry and refugees resettling in their new homes.
Several gifts are for people in our own parish community.
As you can see from the above photos, the response from the parish was overwhelming. Over 900 gifts were given by parishoners. The gifts literally filled the back corner of the church. This is yet another example of the generosity of this faith-filled community and their willingness to share the gifts that God has so generously bestowed on them. As we move through this season of Advent in preparation for the birth of our Savior, let us pray for those who will receive these gifts and ask God to make us all mindful of the needs of others and to be thankful for the blessings He has given us.