The Spirit of
St. Louis @ December 2014 - January 2015
It is more blessed to give than it is to receive. Jesus, ACTS 20:35
Although the life of a person is in a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God. Pope Francis When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude. G.K. Chesterton You can’t have a perfect day without doing something for someone who’ll never be able to repay you. John Wooden No person was ever honoured for what he received. He was honoured for what he gave. Calvin Coolidge
Christmas at St. Louis is always one of the highlights of the year. It is a time of profound beauty and prayerful contemplation that God has come down into our midst to dwell among us. During this sacred season, we rejoice with friends and family, reaching out to one another with generous hearts and Christian go od will. St. Louis is truly blessed to receive generous gifts throughout the year in your tithes and offerings so that we may continue the God’s holy work in our little corner of His kingdom. Your generosity makes it possible for St. Louis to provide a profound witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This witness is rooted in the beau tiful liturgy of our parish; an encounter with Christ in the Eucharist that compels us to reach out beyond the walls of our sanctuary into the lives of people. We feed and clothe those in need in our Social Ministries, educate those searching for Go d in our Christian Formation Ministry, form young disciples in our beloved St. Louis School, welcome God’s people from foreign lands in our Hispanic Ministries, protect and provide for young babies and mothers in our Pro Life Ministries, all the while holding to the truths passed on to us for over two thousand years of Apostolic faith. We know that we are called to be stewards of God’s gifts. A steward is someone who takes care of that which is not his or her own. Most of us have received the fruits of generations’ past hard work at St. Louis. We have received it as a gift from God and are thus called to take good care of it so that we might pass it on to the next generation. We do this with spirits of abundance and, as such, look to share God’s generosity with others. Returning our fruits and labors to God comes in many shapes and sizes, from memorial and honor gifts, to one-time donors and monthly donors. They come from wealthy people, middle class people, and even the poor who work hard for what they have and still want to participate in God’s work at St. Louis. This also takes the form of gifts as part of a will or estate, offering God and his Kingdom a lasting legacy. All gifts express gratef u l hearts for what God has given us and a profound sense of commitment to St. Louis along with His work in our midst. They are a true m easure of engagement and concern for all persons in this shared community. As the year comes to an end I ask you to please remember St. Louis in your prayers and, if you are able, please remember us in your charitable giving. Our promise is that we will use your generous contributions worthily in the building up of God’s Kingdom in North Austin.
A newsletter of st. louis catholic church • 7601 burnet road, austin, tx • www.st-louis.org