Dear Parishioners,
Happy Advent! I love this time of year, the excitement and anticipation as we approach Christmas day makes me all warm and cozy inside. This year I realized that Advent, like our Stewardship, brings out peoples Time, Talent and Treasure.
Time – People are making the time to reach out to friends and family, either by calls, or texts as my teenagers prefer, setting up lunch or dinner dates or planning a family gathering.
Talent – This is the time of year everyone shows off their talents, whether it’s baking, crafting, singing, decorating or setting up the best lighting display in the neighborhood, people are using their Talent to bring Joy to one another.
Treasure – Yes, people are buying gifts for their loved ones but this is also the season where people share their Treasure through donating to many wonderful charitable organizations here in our community.
In my position here at St. Vincent I have a tendency to focus on “Treasure”. It’s not that I believe Treasure is the most important of the three T’s, it’s just that my position is surrounded by it. This year was the first year I headed up our Stewardship Drive and I got to enter in everyone’s pledges. It’s a tedious job but I loved it, every card shows me the generosity of our parishioners. Whether it’s a $250.00 a week pledge or a $5.00 a week pledge I am humbled by the amount of giving I see here at St. Vincent de Paul Parish.
As we continue on our Advent Journey and wait for our savior to come, I encourage you to focus on the three T’s. Spend TIME with your loved ones, slow down and enjoy the moment. Share your TALENT, make homemade gifts, break out into Christmas Carols with your beautiful voice, make Christmas cards and bring them to a Senior Center. Spread your TREASURE, find a local charitable organization and send a donation. Do one, or all, of these with a joyous heart. I guarantee it will bring you JOY this Advent Season.
Diana Carasa
Pastoral Assistant for Administration
Finances - Payroll - Facilities
