As I write this, it is the feast day of St. Nicholas, patron saint of occupations too numerous to mention and a special patron saint of children, young people and of charity in the fullest and richest sense.
Nicholas grew up in Turkey, was orphaned at a young age and used his inheritance to assist the needy, the sick and the poor. He was elected bishop of Myra, and stories abound about his Christ-like love for his people in the direst of circumstances.
His legendary charity and patronage of the young gave rise to the tradition of giving gifts on his feast day, Dec. 6, in the Low Countries and throughout Germanic lands. He was known as Sint Nikolaas in the Netherlands, later shortened to Sinteklaas, precursor to the figure of Santa Claus.
To read more about his life, go to https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/12/06/saint-nicholas-of-bari--bishop-of-myra.html.
This month, you can emulate the charity of St. Nicholas in assisting the needy and the poor. Christmas Day has typically been the date when the Catholic Charities collection is taken up. Originally a second collection with a specific envelope in your collection envelope pack, but now in the day of electronic funds transfers it is often a designation you would apply to a gift through your parish’s electronic giving portal.
The Catholic Charities collection supports diocesan and diocesan-sponsored charities including the Joint Organization for Inner-City Needs (J.O.I.N.), the Church’s own assistance organization helping individuals and families with emergency needs of basic items such as food, prescriptions, birth certificates, utility assistance and shelter-related needs.
J.O.I.N. works with St. Vincent de Paul parish conferences for those shelter-related needs. The collection also supports the St. Francis Evangelization Center in McArthur by helping residents in Vinton County (one of the poorest counties in Ohio) obtain food and clothing.
The Catholic Charities collection also assists our three major diocesan-sponsored charitable agencies – Catholic Social Services, St. Stephen’s Community House and St. Vincent Family Services.
Catholic Social Services (CSS) is a multi-faceted social services agency offering a variety of services and programs for seniors, including money management, payee services, transportation for medical purposes in Licking County, a senior companion program, a foster grandparent program, service coordination at the Seton Square properties and other supportive services.
CSS also operates the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center meeting multiple needs of the growing Hispanic population in central Ohio and the Stay the Course program helping students at Columbus State Community College navigate unexpected challenges on the way to graduation.
St. Stephen’s Community House (SSCH) is also a multi-faceted social service agency largely focused on the needs of Columbus’ Linden area, however its reach in providing for basic needs such as food extends throughout Franklin County.
By providing programs such as the Early Learning Center, summer STEM programs, Achieve More and Prosper, Family to Family, the Nutrition Center and Senior Programing, SSCH addresses the needs of the Linden community throughout the life cycle.
St. Vincent Family Services (SVFS) provides behavioral health-care services to children and their families from the preschool years through middle school. St. Vincent’s offers outpatient and community-based services, day treatment programs through a pairing of education and mental health treatment in their Prep Academy, up to full residential care, when necessary, with an opportunity to step down into foster care until family reunification can take place.
All of these agencies and organizations extend help and hope to low-income individuals and families. Your donation to the Catholic Charities collection is a way of participating in the good work and loving response to need that was modeled so well by the bishop of Myra, St. Nicholas. Please consider giving generously on Dec. 25.
