Dear Friend,

 

This year, Canadian schools opened after two years of COVID-19. Children from all across the country had to endure some adversities and hardships caused by this pandemic that will likely shape their lives forever.

 

As it may be God’s way, the pandemic served as an eye-opener for our children to understand hardships, make sacrifices, and learn about empathy. These are all important traits that missionaries live by, in order to serve God and follow in the footsteps of Jesus and help those in need.

 

Your donation to Holy Childhood helps children around the world that live with the distress of poverty, lack adequate health care, and suffer from lifelong hunger. This year, HCA needs to raise $278,000 to fund 39 important projects in Nigeria, Tanzania, India, and Thailand to help benefit thousands of children in need.

 

Sister Loretto is from the Diocese of Nnewi in Nigeria. She has been a missionary for many years and
visits remote areas in this diocese, where some children will have classes under trees or in open spaces because they have no school. When Sister Loretto visits, groups of children will run to her, crying and begging her to build a school for them.

 

After all these years, the plan is to complete a Primary School that will provide the educational, religious, and spiritual needs of the children in Nnewi. Funding from HCA will help fund the school project and benefit hundreds of children in future years. Sister Loretto needs your special gift to complete her school. Your generous donation makes a difference.

 

Very soon, the season of Advent and Christmas will be upon us. We are reminded that it is a time of God showing His great love for us and it is the celebration of His ultimate gift, the birth of Jesus, Christ’s child.

 

My message to you is that Christmas is about sacrifice, caring, and helping others.

 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” John 3:16

 

We all have a role to play as adults to pass on and instill important Christian values in children. If you have younger children, grandchildren, or family members, share the information about this letter with them. Let them know about the joy of giving and the importance of helping those who are less fortunate. They will likely want to follow in your footsteps and do the same.

 

If a generation of children misses out on learning the importance of helping others, then what defines us as Christians will be lost.

 

Someone once told me that “charity starts at home.”

 

May the gift of Christ be shared with you and your family this Advent season

 

Sincerely,
Rev. Fr. Alex Osei, C.S.Sp.
National Director