“Lent is a good time for sacrificing. Let us deny ourselves something every day to help others.”
– Pope Francis
Self-sacrifice can be defined as the act of giving up something in order to help another. Ever since I was very young, my family made a self-sacrifice during Lent. I remember my first Lenten sacrifice. I was in second grade and attended a Catholic elementary school. My mother discussed with me the meaning of a Lenten sacrifice and I chose to give up cookies, my favorite dessert.
My mother gave up chocolate and my dad chose to offer good deeds to neighbors, sacrificing his time. Mom would take the money we saved from our weekly dessert budget and donate it to a food bank, soup kitchen or one of our Catholic school fundraisers that helped our community.
Your self-sacrifice with supporting our Annual Catholic Appeal has been truly a testament to your commitment to our diocesan community. Your generosity helps our ministries continue their valuable and good work, even through these very difficult times.
One ministry that receives financial support from the ACA is Saint Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich. Its mission is to serve those in Norwich and the surrounding areas who are physically, mentally, or spiritually impoverished. Patrons struggle with homelessness, unemployment, physical or mental disabilities, underemployment and addiction issues. The community includes the elderly, veterans and children. Saint Vincent de Paul offers food assistance, case management, showers, hygiene and more. The services are free to all.
Because some in the community had to isolate during the omicron surge and only had access to microwave ovens, meal options have been limited. As a result, Saint Vincent de Paul Place is asking for donations of microwavable foods such as ramen, soups, oatmeal and pull-top canned spaghetti or ravioli. They also need other housing essentials such as clean blankets, comforters, sheets, toothpaste and deodorant. Jillian Corbin, executive director of Saint Vincent de Paul Place, has provided an infographic that indicates the SVdPP community impact in 2021.
Saint Vincent de Paul Place is just one of the ministries that benefits from our Annual Catholic Appeal. With your support, SVDPP helps so many clients with food assistance, hygiene products and clean linens.
With our 2022 campaign now underway, please consider a monetary gift to the ACA to help our ministries carry out their spiritually affirming and life changing missions. To make a contribution to our 2022 ACA “One Faith, One Family,” please go online to www.norwichdiocesedevelopment.org or contact Heather Harris, campaign manager, at 860-886-1928 ext. 111. Thank you so much for your generosity. Enjoy the Lenten season and stay safe.
By Gina Foster