At our Christmas Basket registrations this past week, the number of applicants more than DOUBLED from previous years. This is primarily due to the fact that Holy Trinity and St. Peter’s are closed, and another church in the North End is not able to assist people this Christmas. It becomes a larger problem when, in addition to double the number of applicants, the amount of donations that we have received so far towards Christmas Baskets is currently about HALF of what we received last year.

At this point, we have stopped taking further applications, something we’ve never had to do so before so early in the year. We are also faced with the prospect of having to dramatically reduce the assistance that each family receives.

If you are in the position to help, please consider making a donation using one of the pink “Christmas Dinner” envelopes located at all entrances of the church. We thank you in advance for any help that you can provide.

Due to the icy conditions, tonight’s Card Game at Holy Redeemer has been cancelled.

Once again it is time to think of those needing help with Christmas dinners. For the past couple of years we have supplied them with Gift Certificates, rather than packing grocery hampers.

This appears to be a popular move as these families were able to buy the food items they preferred. We have placed pink envelopes clearly marked “Christmas Dinners For Needy Families” on the tables at all entrances. We encourage you to use one of these special pink envelopes when you make your donation. Last year we served 89 families and this year we expect there will be more.

If possible, we would like to have all donations in by the first week in December so we can estimate the number of families we will be serving.

The 2019 Sunday Offertory Envelopes are being prepared. For any parishioners who have been using either Holy Trinity or St. Peter’s envelopes, there will be a box prepared for you. For those of you who are on PAD, if you would like a small box of PAD envelopes, please call the office and they will also be prepared. Reminder: these envelopes should not be used until 2019.

Reminder: On Thursday, November 22, Mass will be at 9am rather than noon.

Stock up on home cooking for the Christmas season!

If you would like to donate some home cooking, it would certainly be appreciated. Baked goods can be dropped off to the parish kitchen before any Mass on the weekend.

The annual CWL Christmas Turkey Dinner will be held on Saturday, December 1, in the parish hall after the 4pm Mass. Cost: $15/person. Membership dues of $20 may also be paid that evening, and you may also make a $2 donation for seniors. The telephone committee will contact all members. Deadline to RSVP is Saturday, November 24. If you are donating a Christmas Gift Bag for St. Joseph’s Outreach Center, you may also bring it to the dinner.

Please join us Wednesday evening.

Once again, the CWL would like to help the homeless and less fortunate who visit St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Outreach Center. You can help by filling a Christmas Gift Bag. Deadline for donations is Tuesday, December 4. A list of suggested items can be found at each entrance of the church. Please indicate if the gift is for a man or woman.

Suggested Items for the Gift Bags:

The Knights of Columbus host a 25 Cent Bingo every Tuesday evening in the parish hall beginning at 7pm. On the third Tuesday of each month (November 20) all proceeds go to the Holy Redeemer Building Fund.