Remember Catholic Charities this Christmas

Dec. 21, 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In these final days of Advent, we look forward with great joy to the celebration of Christmas. We should remind ourselves again what Christmas, the "Mass of Christ," means: we celebrate the birth of the Word of God as Jesus Christ to Mary, a simple and humble girl. What a great mystery this is! And what joy it brings to us to know the infant Jesus, our Savior, who comes into the world for the salvation of all the lost and forgotten children of God.

Many of you are parents and grandparents; you know what a gift it is to hold a baby, how your heart swells with compassion for one so innocent and helpless, yet so full of life and promise. We feel just what Mary felt then, cradling her newborn son. This is part of the Christmas joy, which we rightly gather in our families to share and savor.

Yet we remember also who Jesus is, and for what purpose he was born into the world: to be our Paschal Lamb as well as our newborn King. Do we also feel what Mary felt when she stood at the foot of the Cross, her heart pierced as by a sword, watching her son die a terrible death?

Jesus calls every person a brother or sister; we too are called to love each sister and brother as Jesus does. Do we remember this, in the midst of our Christmas joy and celebrations? Does our love extend past our own families, concerns, and needs, to include the needs of those far less fortunate than ourselves?

On Monday, as we celebrate the solemn Mass of Christ, we will have a gracious opportunity to act on our Christ-like love of the poor. In accord with long-standing custom in this diocese, our second collection will be for our local Catholic Charities ministries. Catholic Charities is an arm of the Church dedicated to making Christ's love felt by those most in need in our communities. These faithful, well-trained professionals offer many different kinds of assistance to the most needy among us, on behalf of you, the Church. They are your own hands cradling with compassion those who share most clearly in the likeness of Jesus's infant promise and helplessness.

I ask you to be the spirit of life and love that animates these hands. Remember that Jesus is in the poor: "Whatsoever you do to the least of these little ones, you do to me." On Monday, please give generously, as I will do, to support our Catholic Charities.

The people at Catholic Charities would like to thank you for all of your help throughout the year. Many of you contribute each month to Catholic Charities here in our diocese, many remember Catholic Charities in wills and planned giving, and many respond generously anytime there is a great need such as the response to Hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and to the charitable efforts of the Church throughout the world.

I pray that God will pour out for you every spiritual and material blessing in this joyous season, and make us radiant with faith in our Lord Jesus Christ!

Your brother in Christ,

†RWN
Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City