Stewardship at Christmas

We look ahead to Christmas next weekend knowing that our Christmas collection, one of our two largest special collections of the year, is a necessary part of our ability to support the many ministries, liturgies, and outreach that touch us throughout the year, even at times like 2020 - 2022 when our normal parish life has been interrupted. The dedication of the people of Queen of All Saints to maintain our faith community in times of challenge has always been a hallmark of our parish.
 
We know that recent years were some of the most difficult years in the lives of many of our parishioners, in their health, the health and lives of their loved ones, and in their own financial security. We also know that the burdens of the pandemic were unevenly felt, with some faring better than others.
 
As you look around the basilica with a new-found sense of joy and fellowship this Christmas we hope you appreciate the sacrifices made by those who came before us, who sat in the same pews we sit in today. They build our parish and set aside a cushion to help with capital emergencies, such as we experienced in recent years when faced with the urgent needs to replace our basilica ceiling and repair our bell tower.
 
We hope you also remember the many times our parish has touched our lives, from the very young to the very old. Our parish remains our anchor, not just as a symbol of our faith but more importantly as an actual force in our lives as we live the words of Christ for each other.
 
We know it was impossible for all of us to attend Mass weekly this year for reasons of health hesitancy and otherwise. You may be one of them. Consider this an opportunity to “make up” your support for our parish at year end. Remember, our bills continue every week, every day.