Tuesday, December 1, 2020

A COVID CHRISTMAS REALITY - "GOODY BAGS" INSTEAD OF SANTA

NO, IT'S NOT TOO LATE!

We have been focusing mainly on the Saint Benedict Home for Children Christmas program. We are also trying to do a little something for the children of "Bottomtown" and each parish on the island of Saint Vincent as well as the parishes on the four outer islands of Bequia, Mayreau, Canouan and Union.  Our program will hopefully make Christmas a little brighter for quite a few children!


This is a touching photo of some of the kids, dressed in their best for the occasion, who said a prayer of thanksgiving before opening the presents we sent down a couple of years back. Knowing the situation with COVID, I am sure they will be just as grateful this year for their own personal "goody bag."

BECAUSE OF COVID, THIS YEAR WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FOREGO ANY GROUP GATHERINGS AND SANTA APPEARANCES.


WHAT WE HAVE DECIDED TO DO IS TO MAKE UP LITTLE "GOODIE BAGS" THAT COMMITTEE MEMBERS CAN HAND OUT SAFELY FROM THE TWENTY-ONE S.V.G. CHURCHES. 

BREAKING NEWS

Being the "astute" shopper that I am, I would like to report
that I bought $320.00 worth of candy for $100.00 the day after Halloween! I made three trips to Kroger who was offering a 70% discount on their left-over candy. 
With this 80 pounds of candy from Kroger and the 75 pounds of bulk candy I had already bought online (free shipping of course)  from Oriental Trading Company, we now have 155 pounds of candy to be divided among a few hundred children. 
I also found some small toys from DOLLAR TREE to add to their "goody bags." 

"Bottomtown" is a very poor center-city area of the capitol city of Kingstown, just down the hill from the Roman Catholic Pastoral Centre. 

The "outer islands" are sometimes "overlooked a bit" as far as diocesan programs because of their distance and the smallness of their parishes.  

BOTTOMTOWN


Dressed in her best, this little girl epitomizes the awe and anticipation of children who don't have much at Christmas time.  She waits "in joyful hope" for her gift from Santa. Over the last few years, we have been helping make that small gift possible. Below are some of the older exuberant kids at a previous Bottomtown Christmas party at the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen shelter.  






THE FOUR OUTER ISLANDS


Below are some photos of two typical children's Christmas parties we have sponsored in the past on the four outer islands where there are Catholic parishes. 



THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT, BUT
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP US COMPLETE THIS PROJECT

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
Saint Bartholomew Church-SVG Mission Fund 


SEND YOUR CHECKS TO:
Father Ronald Knott
1271 Parkway Gardens Court #106
Louisville, KY 40217

FOR QUESTIONS, CALL FATHER KNOTT AT:
502-303-4571


A NICE LETTER FROM A DONOR


LETTER FROM SISTER NYRA ANNE

Dear Friends 
On behalf of the Corpus Christi Carmelites, Board of Management, Staff and Children of  St. Benedict Day Nursery and Children’s Home Inc. I wish to express THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kindness in embracing our less fortunate children at this Institution with your care and concern by your special gift of funds towards their personal savings and Christmas treat of Kentucky Fried Chicken. These gifts, they certainly appreciate.  God bless you and all your endeavors at this Christmas time and always. 

Yours truly, 
Sr. Nyra Anne Pajotte O. Carm. 
Administrator, St. Benedict Day Nursery and Children’s Home Inc. 


 In case you missed my November 22 homily
with a lot of information about my island ministry.