The Gift of Love at Christmas

When your heart pours out the gift of love, there is no greater or more satisfying gift to give or receive.  After the excitement of the holidays settles down and the twinkling lights are turned off, isn’t it the love we’ve experienced that brings the most Christmas joy?

We Pallottines have so many gifts to be grateful for. We thank God for the gift of His Son in our lives and for the many loving people who extend their love, prayers and support so graciously.  You are one of those people and I am truly thankful for you.

This Christmas season, I encourage you to look for the gifts in your own life – the blessings of family and friends, a warm, comfortable home, a special pet that brings joy, and all the little things that give you a measure of peace.

For me personally, gifts come in the form of our children’s delight as they decorate their classrooms for Christmas… of a crèche that brings back my first childhood memories of Christ’s birth… of you, whose faithful commitment to our mission has made a difference in the lives of the poor. 

Thanks to you, our Pallottine priests and brothers bring the gift of Christ’s love to the poor in every corner of the world, including here in the U.S. and at our Nationwide Center of St. Jude Devotions.  From basic essentials of food, water and shelter, to education and job training, we serve Christ in the poor thanks to your faithful support.

In this season of giving, I ask you to send a gift of support to help our missionaries and their vital ministries.  With your kind donation, we can continue to walk in the footsteps of our Patron Saint Jude, bringing hope to those who feel lost and abandoned.

I encourage you to embrace the power of St. Jude’s miraculous intercession by sending us your intentions.  Perhaps you, or someone you love, could use St. Jude’s intercession for healing or for hope in a desperate situation.

Our priests and brothers will remember your requests in our prayers and Masses.  We are deeply grateful for any gift you enclose to help us bring Christ’s message of love and hope to the poor.

Thank God for our many blessings, for sending the Child of Bethlehem and for the living faith that strengthens and gladdens our hearts!

 Wishing you the hope of St. Jude and our Newborn King,

Fr. Peter Sticco, S.A.C. 
Novena Director

P.S. This Christmas, we look forward to your gift of love for those who despair.  Please be sure to send your prayer requests so they may be remembered in the prayers and novenas at our Shrine and on the tomb of St. Jude in the Vatican.