As Catholics, our faith tells us that Advent is a season of
preparation. It’s a time to begin anew, to ready ourselves for the presence of
the Christ Child in our hearts. Our society, however, pulls us in another
direction and we find ourselves faced with the same question each year as
Christmas approaches: what new gift ideas can we think of for all the “hard to
please” people on our lists?
At The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, we believe
there is a better, more faith filled way to share happiness as we celebrate the
real meaning of Christmas: we can give the gift of hope to those who live in
mission countries in our loved ones’ names.
This year, please consider making an offering for our
Christmas Enrollment cards or Mass Cards.
Both are a great way to tell your friends, family, and the world that
you love them and your Catholic
faith.
Our Enrollment Cards, for an offering of $5, provide a
yearlong membership in The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Members
receive the spiritual benefits of being remembered in 15,000 Masses said every
year by mission priests and a daily Mass said at the Vatican. By choosing to
support the missions this Christmas, your gift helps untold numbers of people.
The offerings collected from our individual Mass Cards are
sent to priests in the missions who depend on these donations for their daily
support – they receive no salary for their ministry. The suggested offering for the Mass cards is
$10.
Most obviously, our Enrollment and Mass Cards benefit the
intentions of the recipient. Your gift also makes it possible for the Good News
of Jesus Christ to be spread in faraway places like Ecuador.
Tucked into the coastal city of Manta is the Centro Medico La Paz – The Peace Medical
Center – run by Sisters Marcia and Piedad.
Through their clinic, the Sisters, both nurses, are able to provide low
cost medical and dental treatment to the local people who work in the tuna
canning factories for poor wages. This
work is made possible because of generous Catholics around the world who reach
out through their faith to others.
To order your Christmas Mass and Enrollment cards and give
the gift of hope to the missions, go to our website, www.propfaithboston.org
and click on the Mass Offering/Enrollment drop down box under the Propagation
of the Faith for a form, call 617-542-1776, or email us at
[email protected]
-Maureen Crowley Heil
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