Caring for the Treasure of the Church

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Lawrence, a Roman deacon and martyr of the 3rd century. A tradition passed on to us by St. Ambrose and the poet Prudentius tells us that Lawrence served as the pope's almoner, that is to say, one entrusted with the care of the city's poor, whom he considered to be the true "treasure of the Church." The martyrdom he suffered for Christ was cruel—that of being burned alive on a great gridiron. The recurrence of his feast is a reminder for us to pray for our deacons to serve the Church but also how we should have an active concern to assist the poor in their needs.

How blessed our parish is to have an active Social Concerns Committee and St. Vincent DePaul Conference. How impressed and grateful I am to witness year in and year out the many ways our parish seeks to serve the "treasure" that is the poor and needy among us. I could point out many ways we are actively engaged to serve the needy: food drives, Christmas Adopt a Family, our Youth Group's Souper Bowl of Caring, our Lenten Work of Charity, Baby Showers, Clothing and Housewares Drives, and Loaves and Fishes, as well as our regular donations to our St. Vincent DePaul Conference.

I want to thank you for all of this good work and certainly encourage you to continue your generous response to these appeals throughout the year.

"When we are generous in welcoming people and sharing something with them—some food, a place in our homes, our time—not only do we no longer remain poor; we are enriched. I am well aware that when someone needing food knocks at your door, you always find a way of sharing food; as the proverb says, one can always 'add more water to the beans'! Is it possible to add more water to the beans?...Always?...And you do so with love, demonstrating that true riches consist not in material things, but in the heart!"

Pope Francis, Address during the Visit to the Community at Varginha, 7/25/13

Msgr. Gervasio