Give Joy to a Prisoner’s Child This Christmas…..

Through St. Theresa’s Angel Tree Advent Project

His mom or dad is in prison, but he’s also doing hard time. You can let him know he is not forgotten. You can give the child of a prisoner the joy of Christmas this year.

It may seem like a small act of charity to give a prisoner’s child a gift at Christmas. It’s not. Such seemingly small acts of kindness are often a powerful channel of God’s love.

Since 1994, St. Theresa has participated in "Angel Tree” a project sponsored by Prison Ministries, a non-denominational ministry. Angel Tree works by connecting parents in prison with their children through churches who purchase and deliver personalized Christmas gifts. Approximately 90 children were ministered to in 2006, through the generosity and support of almost 200 St. Theresa parishioners, who purchased and delivered gifts.

This year, on the weekend of December 1 & 2, Angel Trees will be set up in the front and back of the church. Hanging from the trees will be paper angels with a child's name, age, gender, and gift suggestions. Parishioners can select an Angel Tree tag and purchase a gift for that child. The gifts should be new and cost no more than $20. Parishioners should wrap the gift and attach the Angel Tree tag securely to the gift, and bring to the church altar the following weekend of December 8 & 9. Social Concerns Committee members will sort and verify all gifts have been received to be sure no child is left out.

Volunteers are also needed to help deliver the gifts in mid-December. This is a wonderful Christmas family project to teach the true spirit of Christmas to your children. For more information on gift delivery, please contact Aurora Lumadue at 277-5164 or Barb Fitzgibbons at 270-8185

“When I opened that box...my kids were

jumping up and down and hugging me...

I said: ‘There really is someone that cares

for us!’”

— Mother of Angel Tree children