Thank you! It is the most beautiful phrase in English — or in any language for that matter. Thank you so much to all our readers who have supported The Tablet’s Bright Christmas Campaign throughout the years and especially this past Christmas season.
Last year, we were able to raise $100,000. The goal this time was $110,000, and you have sent us $106,604. Thank you! We are still a little short of the goal, but we reached a total of one million dollars for the last eight years of the campaign. A million thanks to our readers for their generosity.
“Every year, we conduct the Bright Christmas Campaign to ensure that no child goes without a gift this Christmas,” our editor emeritus Ed Wilkinson wrote two years ago
That noble intention translates into many different kinds of gifts and celebrations. Imagine all the good things that parishes and programs were able to do during the past eight years with the million dollars you sent us.
Last week, I received a letter from Sister Caroline Tweedy, R.S.M., executive director of St. John’s Bread & Life. Founded in 1982 on the principles of St Vincent de Paul, St. John’s Bread & Life serves almost 3,000 meals to hungry New Yorkers every day.
“We are inspired by the story of the Loaves and Fishes in all we do,” the organization says on its website.
The generosity of The Tablet readers no doubt helped to make the miracle possible once again this Christmas for many children of the families the good people of Bread & Life help.
In her letter, Sister Caroline wrote: “On behalf of St. John’s Bread & Life, please accept my gratitude for the generous Bright Christmas donation […] The Bright Christmas donation from DeSales Group/The Tablet inspires everyone at Bread & Life, and gives us the gift of hope this holiday season.”
Last week, we published an article about the Three Kings Day celebration at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, a heavily Hispanic community in Corona.
Father Raymond Roden, the pastor, had asked us for a grant to help organize the event. He was expecting more than a thousand participants — and each kid was expecting a gift. In Hispanic countries and families, children receive gifts on the Feast of Epiphany, Jan. 6, instead of on Christmas Day.
Father Roden said to our reporter: “[The event] helps with evangelization and catechesis, and The Tablet supported us with the Bright Christmas Fund, so I’m grateful to the readers who generously supported the fund, which supports so many parishes, including Our Lady of Sorrows.”
The happy faces of the children in the pictures told the story better than I could ever do. But still I thank you for each donation to the campaign and invite you to imagine the smiles that you have made possible, the little miracles you helped produce for so many of our children in Brooklyn and Queens. Thank you.
We, The Tablet team, could repeat Sister Caroline and Father Roden’s words about our readers. You always inspire us and gave us the gift of hope this Christmas. Your generosity toward the less fortunate is a true expression of the Christmas spirit.
You can still help the campaign. Whatever funds we receive after Three Kings Day will be added to our next Bright Christmas Campaign. I wish you a happy new year.
Thank you!