Christmas 2023

Dear Friends and Parishioners,

The birth of Jesus has revolutionized the history of mankind. A little baby in an obscure grotto in Bethlehem thousands of years ago is able to revitalize this old world of ours with new life and hope. Yes, we are full of hope despite all the miseries and wars we witness in our poor world today.

With prayerful wishes this year, I also come to you to share my concerns and ask for help.

Our Parish has a very important place in our community with a memory of a great past and a beacon of light for our future generations. It is like our grandmother who gives us a sense of purpose, stability, and great hope for the future. Sadly, as time goes on, even our dearest institutions come of age.

Our parish is unique in the sense that, while it was born as a united community (even geographically), now its members are dispersed throughout the greater Metropolitan Washington D.C. area and in other parts of the country and world. There is a very strong sense of attachment and cultural pride which goes back to three generations and keeps our church vibrant. But, to keep up with the fast-paced, ever-evolving times, we must change strategies and plans for pastoral services. We must look for new means of communication to reach out to those who live far. Therefore, looking to the future, we are planning a holistic “spiritual renewal” of our vision and our activities.

As in every family, in planning our spiritual renewal, we must look at our financial situation. While we are very happy that our parish forefathers were extremely fortuitous and left us a good amount of money invested for the future of the church, we cannot rely solely on the interests of our forefathers’ sacrifices. That is why I come to you to ask for help, so that we can take care of our needs without depleting our reserves.

As a sign of your appreciation and thanksgiving to God and our Church, I am kindly asking you for a “substantial donation” once a year, beginning with this Christmas season. I know that many of you are already actively involved in your local churches, but we cannot forget our mother church which has guided and sustained our parents and grandparents in their struggles and successes. I am asking everyone, including those who live far away and have no way to come in person, to consider a donation of $1,000.00 for the year, which corresponds to $20.00 a week for those who come to church regularly. You could make the donation by check for the full amount or in installments as you deem necessary, or you can go to our link on our website and click
 
This donation will place us financially in a more sustainable position and will give us the opportunity to gear our efforts towards a more spiritual and Christian formation for young and old. Your donation will also enable us to develop mediatic tools (Like: Web Page, Facebook, Email, Flocknote, Formed.org, Zoom and others) so that you will be able to participate in our programs from the safety of your own home.

We are truly grateful for your generous consideration of this important request to keep our parish and our community thriving for many years to come.

Together with the parish staff and volunteers, I wish you a Merry and Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A blessing for all your families,

Rev. Walter Tonelotto, C.S.
Parochial Administrator