What Are We Sacrificing For?

As we deny ourselves through fasting  and/or refraining from indulging    in entertainments, spirits, sweets or treats we are at the same time accumulating a bit extra that we are not spending on ourselves to  share with those in need.   That is why  It is a custom that as Lent ends on the evening of Holy Thursday a collection is taken up for the poor at the Evening Mass of the Lord’s  Supper.       While we are free to identify our own charities and causes to support with our alms, as a community it is also good for us to support some together.  This year let us propose the following:

St. Vincent de Paul:  This is our local charitable arm that reaches out to the poor in our name and so is always worthy of our support but especially in Lent.

Catholic Near East Welfare Agency:  An organization under the authority of the Pope which seeks to support  the church in the Middle East, one which we well know is suffering great persecution and hardship and is certainly worthy of our support.

Catholic Relief Service: This is an agency of the Catholic Church in the United States which reaches out to the poor of the world in our name, and is a traditional charity supported by our almsgiving each Lent.

Seminarians of St Aloysius in Tanzania:  This is a Seminary run by Fr. Augustino, a priest known to Fr. Healey, who tries to get support for the students of his seminary who cannot afford the $600 annual tuition to continue their studies.  This is not a big agency, it’s a particular need  in a far off and forgotten place that is not widely known nor being answered, and so is it a wonderful cause to support.

So as we make our sacrifices over the 40 days – these are the proposed beneficiaries of the increased resources we may be able to accumulate by the end of Lent. As we feel the pinch or pain of not having what we want at the moment, it can be helpful to imagine those who will be benefitting from our self-imposed deprivation in order to make it more meaningful.   On Holy Thursday we will ask that you come prepared to bring your own offerings for the poor to the altar person by person, row by row.   Your gift(s) should be in the form of cash or check made out to the parish placed in envelopes which should designate the charities these are intended to benefit.  If you are using them, please also empty your Rice Bowls and convert the change into cash or check and designate it to benefit CRS.     You may decide which of the above charities you want to support – or all of them and to what degree-either by preparing separate amounts and envelopes for those you choose, or if you place cash or check in one envelope with no particular designation the parish will divide it evenly among all four.  

Stations and a Simple Supper:   On Friday, April 7th, the Stations of the Cross will be prayed at 5PM rather than 4 and will be followed by a Simple meatless Lenten supper of soup, salad, bread, and Jello, for which a free will offering is asked.   Whatever  is collected above and beyond the expenses for the supper will be contributed to our designated Lenten Charities.  So this is an opportunity to join together communally before the end of Lent for Prayer (Stations) Fasting (simple supper) and Almsgiving (proceeds of the supper) so please mark your calendars now and plan on participating in a faith community wide Lenten observance.


Fr. Edward Healey