By Shirley Baker, Pastoral Council Chair
“Give something, however small, to the one in need, for it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God if we have given what we could.” - St. Gregory Nazianzen
   As we journey through Lent, we are invited to deepen our spiritual practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Almsgiving, in particular, serves as a profound expression of our faith, allowing us to extend Christ’s love to those in need. Almsgiving transcends monetary donations; it also encompasses acts of kindness and service, as well as practicing obedience in daily vocations. Almsgiving not only aids others, but it also brings healing and growth to our own spiritual lives.
   The Pastoral Plan for our parish sets service to our community as a priority. Our sponsorship and support of local service projects aligns with the social justice mission of the larger church. For example, recently, under the direction of Alexis Chalmers, our parish acted as a distribution point for the necessities of caring for a new baby. This event allowed our parish to offer hospitality and support to local women and their families. The PREPARES program also distributes hundreds of free diapers once a month at St. Mary’s to those in need in our community. Last week, we hosted the St. Patrick’s Day Community Dinner organized by the Chewelah Faith Resource Group to serve over 70 free meals to the community. Parish volunteers and members of the middle school youth group helped assist in this annual event. Furthermore, many parishioners have added items to the food bank collection baskets to support nearby food banks. Even more opportunities to serve our community are on the horizon:
On Saturday, April 12 our parish will participate in the Chewelah City-Wide Cleanup to offer a hand in sprucing up the Chewelah community after the long winter. On the same day we will also have a day of maintenance for St. Mary of the Rosary Church, in preparation for Easter.
On Saturday, May 3, our parish will participate in the Chewelah City-Wide Yard Sale. Item collection will begin on Saturday, April 26. Proceeds will benefit the St. Mary’s youth with the youth assisting in the sale as well.
Early in the fall, in coordination with the Knights of Columbus, our parish will sponsor a winter coat distribution to help offset the cost of a warm winter coat for local families.
Participating in these events provides us with opportunities to practice almsgiving through our time and presence, fostering a deeper connection with our community and faith. I hope you will join me during this season of Lent - and beyond - so together we can open our hearts to serve others to reflect the love and compassion of Christ in all that we do.