Almsgiving is the discipline of Lent where we give to help others. So I’d like to pause and thank some people whose gifts have helped our parish. Thanks to everyone who contributed to Fund-A-Need at the 2024 Gala. Your gifts allowed us to to hire Mrs. Gloria Openlaner as an additional part-time learning consultant for our school. What a big gift she has been to our students and teachers! Thanks to everyone helping with our Fish Fry. Your service, joined with the Golf Tournament enabled us to pledge scholarships for our school families totaling $28,500 for 2024-2025 and $39,250 for 2025-2026 through the Monsignor Vince Bommarito Scholarship Fund. Thanks to our Holy Name Society and Golf Tournament, we have a new fridge in the SSP kitchen. Thanks to our volunteers and contributors with the Saint Vincent De Paul Society. You have allowed us to give aid to our neighbors in need. Most of all, thanks to our tithing parishioners. Your charity enables our parish to help people meet Jesus and grow as His disciples. 
      Some parishioners have told me they are worried about recent cuts to government support for development programs in our neighborhoods and around the world. Tithing here at our parish made it possible for us to give $3,000 in rent reduction for Welcome Neighbor STL (welcomeneighborstl.org) to help them through a financial crisis caused by changes in government policies. Around the world, Catholic Relief Services (crs.org) does a lot of work to feed the hungry, work for peace, and lift up those in need. I’ve found both these organizations worthy of my personal support, and if you’d like to personally make a difference in these difficult times, I encourage you to learn more about them and to consider supporting them by your almsgiving. 
      God bless you!