If my memory serves, I have been receiving generous gifts from BWI to pass onto charities entirely of my own choice for almost twenty years. The selection of what individual or what group to donate to is always a struggle. There is certainly no shortage of good-hearted initiatives to support. Especially at Christmas, we look to feed the soul as well as the body. In wealthy Canada perhaps it’s the soul that requires the most attention.

As we donated locally this year, it was in this spirit that we chose to support the St. Vincent de Paul Society. To loosely borrow from its mission, it is a Catholic lay organization that is inspired by Gospel values that aims to lead women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul. They in turn directly helped two families in our Parish dealing with some particularly difficult challenges.

Many thanks to the Partners of BWI to make this all possible.

Paul Wood &Friends