Oakland Catholic Worker Christmas Appeal (and New Video!)

Dear friends of the Oakland Catholic Worker,

As the Christmas season draws near, reminding us of God’s great mercy, all of us at the Oakland Catholic Worker have much for which to be grateful. Our staff, volunteers, and donors enable us to keep our programs running, and our guests inspire us to be hopeful in the face of adversity.

We currently have four families and one individual as our guests at the Oakland Catholic Worker. Each of them is struggling to build a safe and stable future for themselves and their families in this country. During this season of Advent and Christmas, we remember the story of Mary and Joseph seeking a place to stay where Mary could give birth to Jesus. We also recall the story of Herod’s persecution of Jewish children which caused the Holy Family to flee to Egypt to protect their child.

These Christmas readings remind us of our guests’ experiences. How often have we heard stories of parents looking for a safe place for their children to eat and sleep? How often have we heard stories of families making great sacrifices to protect their children from violence in their homeland?

As we accompany our immigrant sisters and brothers, we ask for your help. We are in constant need of donations to keep our programs running and make much needed repairs to our shelter. In this time of great uncertainty, especially for the immigrant community, we rely on your generosity to do this work and to carry us through the coming months.

Thank you so much for your kindness and your prayers. May you and your families be filled with the joy of this Christmas season!

Sincerely,