Friends,
As we enter more deeply into this holy season of Lent, the Church invites us to embrace three great spiritual practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. While, each of these disciplines opens us to God’s grace in a unique ways, almsgiving or charitable giving to the poor is a practice at the very heart of the Gospel.
Lent reminds us that our faith is not merely something we profess—it is something we live. When we fast, we learn to let go of what is unnecessary. When we pray, we draw closer to the Lord who loves us. And when we give alms, we imitate Christ Himself, who poured out His life for others.
One of the oldest and most beautiful Catholic traditions connected to almsgiving is the use of poor boxes. These simple wooden boxes, often tucked quietly near the doors of the church, have for generations been a humble but powerful means of supporting those in need. Every coin or dollar slipped inside becomes an act of mercy, a small sacrifice that God multiplies in ways we may never see.
Here in our parish, the poor boxes directly support our social outreach ministries. Your generosity allows us to respond compassionately to those in need. During Lent, we encourage you to make the poor box part of your weekly offering, a tangible expression of your Lenten commitment to charity.
Whether it is a small daily sacrifice, a family decision to give together, or a renewed habit of noticing the poor box on your way into Mass, every gift matters. Together, we can make this Lent a season of real transformation—not only for ourselves, but for our neighbors who rely on our kindness.
May the Lord bless your prayer, strengthen your fasting, and inspire your generosity as we journey toward Easter.
Faithfully in Christ,
Rev. Stephen Ries
Pastor