Until it was hijacked by Madison Avenue, Thanksgiving was a special day that was all about family, food, football, and, of course, thanking God for our bountiful blessings.   Then along came Black Friday encouraging shoppers to be at stores in the wee hours of the morning, or better yet, Thanksgiving night. Because more people began electing to shop online to avoid the hustle and bustle of crowds at shopping malls, Cyber Monday was born.

Originated in 2012, it was designed to encourage people to give their talent, time, and treasure by reminding them there is more to holidays than consumerism and commercialism.  The intent was to set aside a day that was all about celebrating the generosity of giving, a great American tradition.

During November, our children are learning about the axiom that 'it is better to give than receive.'  Our Student Council is conducting a "basic needs fundraiser" for the benefit of Bridges Communities in Glen Ellyn.  Bridges Communities is a non-profit organization which provides transitional housing and programs to assist homeless families throughout DuPage County.  Many personal and household products, such as soap, paper towels, and trash bags necessary for daily life, yet expensive for families on a low-income, are being collected. 

Our parish will be donating the collection from the 9:30 Thanksgiving day Mass to our St. Vincent de Paul ministry.  Also, proceeds from this year's Light the Way will be used to advance our parish outreach mission by supporting expectant mothers, the unborn, the homeless and homebound, the poor, the elderly, the infirm, the dying, and the bereaved.

The forecast this year is that Americans will transfer over $252 million to charities and non-profits of their choice between this year's celebration of Giving Tuesday on November 29 and year's end.

Many financial advisors encourage year-end giving as a tax strategy for those who need additional deductions prior to income tax season.  We are grateful for the generosity of our school families in terms of their weekly Offertory gift to the parish, and for all of the school fundraisers they support.

However, should you be in a position that is advantageous for you to make another charitable donation prior to the onset of 2017, we remind you that our school would be an ideal choice for your tax-deductible gift.  There are many things on the wish list of our administration that cannot be absorbed by the operational budget. 

Should you make a gift, please know that you may also designate a donation in someone's honor and ask that a special prayer be offered for a loved one experiencing some difficulty in their life.  Examples might be someone serving in the military, a teacher, someone who recently passed away, a woman experiencing a difficult pregnancy, an individual dealing with a health issue, or a family member dealing with a challenging relationship.