Remember Catholic Charities this Christmas

December 22, 2005

Dear Friends in Christ,

Christmas contains powerful imagery - Christmas trees, decorative lights, and brightly wrapped presents. All are very important to our celebration of this incredible feast of Christmas. They are however, only outward signs and may not answer the questions of our hearts - "What does Christmas mean?" - "Why do we celebrate?" It is here where we need to ask ourselves another question, namely, "What does Christmas do?"

What Christmas does is that it tells us about the great love God has for us by giving us his son, Jesus, - the most perfect gift. By his life here on this earth Jesus has shown us how to love. He also has given us a commandment to follow, "Love one another as I have loved you."

We see the love of Christ put into action every day by Catholic Charities in our Diocese of Sioux City. It is the mission they follow as they reach out with love to find a safe and loving home for the infant child being adopted - as they reach out to help married couples work through relationship problems so the true meaning of marriage, home and family can be a living reality for children to be raised. Each day Catholic Charities prides itself on being founded on Christ's all embracing love as it works to touch the lives of people coming to them - those often "overlooked" as the confused, the distressed, the bereaved, the broken and the needy. Catholic Charities in our diocese needs your help to assist them in fulfilling their mission of love for others.

Our custom of gift giving to family and friends out of love is good. It also is a custom for all parish families in our diocese, a custom which goes back for more than fifty years, to give in a special second collection at Christmas for the work of Catholic Charities. I pray that you will open your hearts to respond generously to this special collection for Catholic Charities. This will truly show what Christmas does - to thank God for His blessings to us and to love as He did.

The face of Christ will be seen in you who give generously - as in those who will receive your gifts.

With every best personal wish for a Blessed Christmas, I remain,

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Msgr. Roger J. Augustine
Diocesan Administrator