Thank You, My Friend

The Little Way Messengers

With your support today Fr. Selvaraj can recruit, train and dispatch new soldiers of Christ to help the poorest of the poor in some of the most dangerous places on earth.

With your help the word of the Lord can prevail and create instruments of His Gospel message.

You can be part of Fr. Selvaraj's inspiring mission today.

"Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you - for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart... The guest of our soul knows our misery; He comes to find an empty tent within us - that is all He asks."

- St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Learn more about Catholic World Mission programs to support missionaries and spread the Good News of the Lord throughout the world on our website.

I can't believe it is nearly Christmas. Sitting in the front row at Mass in our office's small chapel listening to Father Martin's homily made me think how little time I have left to prepare to welcome the birth of my Savior. Father Martin challenged us to have a plan for continued spiritual growth in this start of the Church's new liturgical year. He asked, 'Are we treating the birth of the Lord as any other purchase for loved ones - or are we actively, consciously making a plan to prepare for his coming?'

I decided to spend time for reflection in the evening: Could I have welcomed the Lord differently this past couple of months? Where exactly did I encounter the Lord in my daily activities, and how did I respond? Did I even recognize the Lord in the many ways he came to my life?

One thing stood out about my experiences this past year, it made me thank the Lord for being a Christian. I met and have spoken with so many people around the world I would not have had the opportunity to interact with had I not been working to raise money to help the poor. The company of people I now consider friends have grown considerably. Looking back, what I treasure most is seeing how even in difficult times my new friends recognize and appreciate God's presence. We all felt free to share the ways in which God has manifested His love and His presence in our lives.

I realized by saying 'yes' to God and leaving the comfort of my home in Georgia to visit people, to see and experience their hardships, that God has seen fit to introduce me to so many of His Son's friends - men, women, and children of such exuberant faith, hope, and love for God. As a Christian I believe God acts to always bring people together, so that together, people can experience the same love and true joy the Father, Son, and Spirit shares with one another.

So this Advent season, my plan is to increase my list of friends by several more thousand. This past year, my new friends from the remotest parts of the world included school children, their families, young men and women, teachers, priests and bishops, missionaries, and ordinary people - all working together to make a better world. To all of them, I give thanks to God. But I would be remiss if I forget to give thanks to you, my friend. Thank you for your generous heart in allowing us at Catholic World Mission to be able to help so many of our friends around the world.

I would also like to introduce you to a new friend, Father Balappa Selvaraj. He wants desperately to introduce Christ to 65 million people in his home state in India and around the world by forming holy priests. He sent me an electronic correspondence asking for help from friends like you. Can you help prepare the way for this new order of missionary priests?

In closing, my wish for you is for a blessed Advent season and beyond. May the birth of the infant child take hold of your heart this Christmas and may you share in His joy now and forever.

As always, we welcome your prayer intentions. The opportunity to Unite in prayer with our Catholic World Mission extended family is a grace that we do not take for granted. Please submit your prayer intentions here!