Friday, December 21, 2012

Social Concerns Column for December 23, 2012




"The world must be educated to love Peace, to build it up and defend it." -- Pope Paul VI, 1968

World Day of Peace: January 1, 2013

The Pope's theme for World Day of Peace 2013 is, “Blessed are the Peacemakers.”  In his 2013 Message for the World Day of Peace, Pope Benedict XVI reminds us at that we all have a role to play in building peace in our communities and world. His 2013 Message focuses on human dignity, rights and responsibilities, as well as the fiftieth anniversary of John XXIII's Pacem in Terris.   Read the Pope's message on the Vatican's website at: http://tinyurl.com/PopeWorldDayPeace

Stories of Generosity from St. Michael Parish

The Livermore Homeless Refuge extends a big thank you to all the wonderful people from St. Michael's who generously support our Refuge ... because without you, we couldn't do it.  Here are recent stories about the Refuge and St. Michael parishioners:

As A Little Child:  A woman, man and a seven year old little girl came to our door and gave me $6.10 from the little girl's piggy bank to help the homeless.  The little girl understood what she was doing, it was all her idea: She told her parents to give the money to the homeless because it's so cold out and she has a warm bed. We all cried.  This is all so humbling to us: God is Good!

Great Eighth Graders:  The St. Michael's 8th grade class raised money and gave us a gift card to purchase clothes and needed items for our homeless.  Their hard work brought immediate help to the homeless -- the new clothes went to the homeless within days.
 
Serving the Really Hungry: One night, I served a man who had not eaten in THREE DAYS....nothing at all.  We really are a Refuge to people at the end of their rope.

Knights are Noble:   Dennis Lundbaum from the Knights of Columbus called us late Sunday night after a dinner they served in the big hall and gave us all the leftovers!  This unexpected and delicious warm food was so well received by our homeless.  I speak for them when I say, they are so grateful ... so are we!!

The Words of Jesus: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." -- Matthew 25

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