Christmas collection supports Catholic Charities

Parishioners are asked to remember the less fortunate in the diocese this Christmas season and support the Children and Family Services Appeal, which will be held Dec. 24-25 as the second collection at Christmas Masses.

Contributions to this traditional appeal will support the work of Catholic Charities with children, families and other people in need.

“Jesus teaches us to put the needs of the poor ahead of our own,” Bishop Edward C. Malesic wrote in a letter to the priests of the diocese.

“When we take care of the poor among us, we serve Jesus Himself in a most personal way.”

The bishop said Christmas is the perfect opportunity to adjust gift-giving to include those “who, like the Christ child, could find no place to lay their heads, and for many, no food for their mouths.”

Bishop Malesic noted that support of the collection “al-lows those touched by poverty, violence or brokenness to look beyond their present conditions and find the hope to work toward better circumstances.”