Christmas
Christmastime is here!
It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Or is it? After two months, if not more, of holiday planning, shopping, decorating, baking, etc., Christmas can seem almost anti-climactic – the cool down after the marathon. No more gifts to wrap, no more credit cards to max out, no more grumpy shoppers to wrestle for … Continue reading
Merry Christmas to Christ’s Disciples
This Christmas, many lay missionaries—and many of our ministry partners—will be spending Christmas out in the field, ministering to the poor they serve. These disciples of Christ might be serving hot meals, visiting the elderly, or doing other meaningful work on behalf of the poor on Christmas Day in addition to celebrating Christ’s birth. Here’s … Continue reading
Merry Christmas from Reencontro!
On a recent visit to one of our ministry partners in Mozambique, Reencontro, our Africa Projects Officer received a letter of thanks that seemed very fitting to share with you during this Advent season. It’s from 17-year-old Carolina, a girl caring for her siblings after their parents passed away. Carolina’s life was dramatically transformed because … Continue reading
It’s A Wonderful Life
My family has a yearly Christmas tradition. After a marathon day of holiday baking, we all settle down with warm cups of peppermint hot chocolate and watch the Christmas classic, “It’s A Wonderful Life”. I always find myself cheering for the film’s protagonist, George Bailey—especially when he uses his own money to help save the … Continue reading
A Cardboard Crib
The Christmas tree was lit. The angels were dressed in white and gold. And the nervous laughter of my students filled the air as they waited for their parents and friends to find their seats. As the lights dimmed, I quickly placed the hay in the cardboard manger and prompted the kids to take their … Continue reading
Christmas in January…and the Old Testament
For Catholics, the Christmas season doesn’t end until January 6, known as the Feast of the Epiphany. The holiday commemorates the Wise Men who visited the baby Jesus some time after his birth. Because the Bible says very little about the Wise Men, many questions remain about who they were and why they were expecting … Continue reading
A Life Lesson from Joseph and Mary
When God told Joseph and Mary about the forthcoming birth of Jesus, they could have resisted the news. After all, conceiving a child out of wedlock was a serious matter. But we know they each accepted the noble assignment with tremendous faith and trust. Joseph “did what the angel of the Lord commanded” (Matthew 1:24) … Continue reading
Snowflakes: Reminders of the Perfect Gift
At this time of year, we receive Christmas cards from our mission partners in the field. We are continually blessed by these handmade cards and personal notes from orphans we support in Haiti, students in the Philippines, and the Catholic missionaries we support in Latin America and Africa. We received an especially poignant card this … Continue reading
The Most Precious Gift
Every year the U.S. Census Bureau collects data on the nation’s Christmas spending habits. A few of this year’s stats: 16.6 billion Number of cards, letters, and packages the U.S. Postal Service will deliver between Dec. 1 and Christmas this year. $4.3 billion The value of U.S. toy imports from China between January and August … Continue reading
Remember “Today’s Tiny Tims”
Disney’s 3D adaptation of A Christmas Carol is introducing a new generation to Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale of greed, poverty, and repentance. This is good news for parents concerned by the avalanche of materialistic messages that too often overwhelm the humble story of Jesus’ birth and the value of giving. Even if the latest … Continue reading
