From the Pastor’s Desk
By Fr. Terry Kerner
One of the most beautiful traditions of the Christmas Season is a spirit of generous gift giving. It is especially meaningful when our outreach is directed to the vulnerable and needy in our community. Like most parishes St. Kateri again this year has offered the Giving Tree as a specific program of sharing. I am very happy to report our collection of Christmas gifts. Nativity of our Lord parish, located in the poorest zip code of Metro Detroit, received 121 children’s gifts. St. Patrick Senior Center, a perennial charity for the parish, was delivered 29 gifts for the elderly. And Vista Maria was gifted with 76 presents for the young women in residence. The rising cost of food was responded by parishioners with a $2,835 collection for the food pantry at St. Maria Goretti. We can all be very thankful for our ability to be aware of many needs and generous in trying to address them this Christmas Season. On behalf of all recipients, I say “THANK YOU” for remembering them this Christmas.
I also want to thank all of you who have so generously supported St. Kateri parish throughout the year. Though Covid has cut down on church attendance and effected the offertory, we have been able to carry on confidently. Some parishioners prefer to make a one-time offering for the year at Christmas time because it is not taxed by the Archdiocese. This is certainly appreciated and helps us to make up for any shortfall during the year.
Hopefully these final days before Christmas will afford you the time to relax and give thoughtful prayer as to what this year has meant for you and what the birth of Christ can bring into your heart. God cannot be outdone in His generosity. Let us rejoice that each one of us remains as an “apple of His eye”!
Merry Christmas
