Advent will soon begin and with it all of our preparations to welcome Jesus into our homes and hearts. These projects are a great way for us to collectively give alms to assist those in need both near and far this Christmas. Quickly the new year will begin, with Advent commemorating the dawn of Christ’s restoration of justice and peace. To prepare for Advent, and to make it possible to distribute our donations before Christmas, the Giving Tree is up and decorated with gift request tags. The Giving Tree recipients, as well as the other parish Advent projects, are listed here so each of us can plan for the way(s) we would like to participate in the parish’s Advent giving to the vulnerable and needy.

Material Goods Donations:

One weekend only! December 7-8: Drop off donations of the following items when you come to Mass on the weekend of Saturday or Sunday, December 7 & 8, only:

Non-perishable Food for St. Dominic’s Outreach Center: Food donations to this neighborhood assistance program that serves 75+ families in Detroit are down this year. Any food donations will be appreciated; but the most needed items include: hearty soups, instant oatmeal packets, sugared cereals, pasta and sauces. Please, no glass jars.

Paper towels, Kleenex, Clorox cleaning wipes and individual applesauce cups for Mary’s Children:  This Catholic ministry, located in Clawson, provides a loving and nurturing day program for severely brain injured adults. Our donations will help offset the costs of this intensive, much needed service for vulnerable individuals and their families.

Giving Tree Gift Requests:

The gift requests on the Giving Tree will go to individuals served by the following local programs:

Macomb County Community and Mental Health:  Children and families assisted by the county have requested specific gifts. These gifts should be wrapped, and have the gift tag attached.

St. Dominic’s Outreach Center:  A variety of popular gifts have been requested for the children and senior assisted at St. Dominic’s. These gifts should be unwrapped, with the gift tag attached.

Parish and Neighborhood Families in Need:  Specific, much needed gifts, as well as gift cards have been requested.

St. Veronica Parish Giving Tree:  The food pantry at St. Veronica’s in Eastpointe, which feeds 210 families, has requested help providing $25 Meijer or Walmart gift cards for the children and seniors it serves to purchase clothes, shoes, or a gift.

Mary’s Children:  has asked for Meijer and Kroger gift cards, in either $25 or $50 amounts, to be used to purchase birthday or Christmas gifts for their students.

Select a tag from the tree, and drop off the requested gift, with the gift tag attached, before any weekend Holy Mass by December 8; gift cards may be placed in the Sunday collection basket by December 8. Gifts and gift cards may also be dropped off in the Parish Office during regular office hours by December 9.

Monetary Donations to Local Ministries:

During the month of December, donations to the parish Christian Service Fund will be distributed between these ministries:

Image of God Crisis Pregnancy Centers:  Women experiencing a crisis pregnancy find friendly and much needed assistance at Image of God’s three centers, one of which is in nearby Madison Heights. The centers help women set goals and provide for their own and their baby’s needs from pregnancy through the baby’s first 2 years. Our donation will help cover Image of God’s operational costs so they can continue their lifesaving and life affirming mission in 2025.

St. Christine’s Christian Services:  Located in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit, the soup kitchen and food pantry at St. Christine’s currently feeds 500 people each week. Our donation to their general fund will go toward purchasing fresh foods, paying utility bills or wherever is most needed.

Donations to the Christian Service Fund can be made online via PushPay; or place cash or a check made out to Ss. Cyril & Methodius in a white Advent Giving envelope and put it in the Sunday collection basket by December 25.

International Monetary Donations

Slovak Seminary Donation:  Future priests from all five Slovak dioceses are currently studying at St. Gorazd Seminary in Nitra. This year 50 theology students are in formation at St. Gorazd. This annual donation from our parish is a small way for us to support the church in Slovakia. Rather than a direct sponsorship, our donation will be used at the rector’s discretion to provide financial assistance or to help fund retreats or other formation events.

Catholic Medical Clinic in Kahama, Tanzania:  The town of Kahama, home of our sister parish Holy Family, desperately needs a medical clinic that cares for each patient’s heart and soul, as well as their immediate medical concerns. It needs a Catholic medical clinic. Since his visit to our parish last spring, Bishop Christopher has started construction a building for this clinic. However, funds have run low and the project is at a stand-still. Our donation will allow construction to continue and move closer to providing this loving and essential resource to the people of Kahama.

To donate to either or both of these projects, place your donation in a blue Advent Giving envelope, indicate the amount of your donation for the program(s) you wish to donate to, and place it in the Sunday collection basket by December 25. Note: per the IRS, this international donation is not tax deductible.

Thank you for your consideration, generosity and prayers! If you have questions about any of the projects, contact: Erin Rybicki at ChristianService@saintcyrils.church or Sandi Brady in the Parish Office