You will remember that in Lent of 2025 we pushed the ideal of Lenten almsgiving and encouraged donations to Wells in Africa. This is a program which brings clean water to remote African villages by sending the equipment to dig wells. Our response was phenomenal. Generous parishioners donated over $48,000. Fr. Fabian Hevi is the priest who began the program and who oversees it with the help of Cross Catholic Outreach. Fr. Fabian will be in the US for two weeks this year, and Cross Catholic Outreach offered to have him come and speak at St. Charles. We will welcome him at all of the Masses next weekend and hear about the program and the results of our donation.
The blue barrel from Catholic Charities and four other agencies is in our Gathering Space this weekend and next. Donations of diapers, hygiene items, socks and underwear will be gratefully accepted for those in need.
With Cardinal Fest coming up on Sept. 12, we are also accepting donations of two-liter bottles of pop and Little Debbie treats. You may leave those also in the church Gathering Space.
