Happy Advent!  As I mentioned at Masses last weekend, many individuals have been inquiring about providing gifts for children and/or about adopting a family this Christmas.  This year, the St. Joseph Parish Outreach Committee is partnering with the Rotary’s Community Chest Program to help meet this need.  “The Giving Tree” is once again engracing the narthex of our church, adorned with ornaments designating wish-list items such as clothing, footwear, toys, books, arts and crafts, and other hoped-for items for children in the Lincoln, Woodstock, and Thornton area.  Please stop by the tree to see how you can help meet the needs of these children during this Advent/Christmas Season.  (Shopping-free options are available for those who wish to avoid crowded stores.)  To adopt and provide gifts and dinner for an entire family at Christmas, please contact Stuart Anderson (sanderson@albaarchitects.com), a member of both the Rotary and the St. Joseph Parish Outreach Committee, to make arrangements for delivery of gifts, clothing, and Christmas dinner.  In additions to being a very spiritual and compassionate way of celebrating Advent, loving one’s neighbor reflects the love of God in the community.

God bless you always, but especially during the Advent and Christmas Seasons!

With prayerful best wishes,

Fr. John Mahoney