Delivering food, shelter, and hope to the poorest of the poor
Advent is a special time to prepare our hearts for Jesus. In this Sunday’s Gospel Reading, Jesus warns his disciples not to allow the daily worries to distract them from what’s most important: preparing for heaven.
We pray, even when we are having a bad day, so God can help us stay alert and focused on his love.
Jesus is our hope!
Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.
Luke 21:36
Transform Lives: Make a Collection Box
It’s hard for children like Antonio to stay focused on Jesus when they don’t have a safe place to sleep at night. You can make a difference!
Cross Catholic Outreach will provide you with collection boxes, free upon request, to collect money to bless the poor. Children can also make collection boxes by decorating small cardboard boxes or empty containers with wrapping paper.
During Advent, children can take their boxes home and add extra change earned from chores. In the final week, children can bring their collection boxes as gifts to the “We Love Mary” party.
Proceeds from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures incurred through June 30, 2022, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.
Nearly 75 million children* live in extreme poverty. Antonio (pictured) is one of these children. He lives in Guatemala’s Diocese of Santa Rosa de Lima, where families struggle to afford basic necessities.
*Source: The World Bank
Father, through your Son and by the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to recognize your face in all those affected by global poverty and fill us with the love and fortitude we need to confront its causes. Amen.
*From A Prayer to Confront Global Poverty, USCCB, 2009
Our mission is to mobilize the global Catholic Church to transform the poor and their communities materially and spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ. Your gift empowers us to serve the poorest of the poor by channeling life-changing aid through an international network of dioceses, parishes and Catholic missionaries. This cost-effective approach helps break the cycle of poverty and advance Catholic evangelization.