A Special Begging Box Request

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Written by Brother Conrad Richardson, fbp

Category: Franciscan Brothers of Peace

Published: 14 September 2017

Fall, 2017

Dear Friends,
It has happened again! Students have returned to school. For some parents it comes as a relief since they do not have to be as creative in keeping younger ones occupied as they did during summer break. For others it is bittersweet seeing off their freshman sons and daughters to colleges and universities.
A reality that we encounter with some of the poor and marginalized families that we work with include parents, many of them single parents, who have little money to provide what is necessary for their kids to attend school with the items they need. So many have come to our door asking for school supplies or clothing to replace the clothes their children have outgrown.

The Brothers have been blessed to assist the refugee families from Burma in various ways. While the enculturation of these beautiful families continues, a fear that many younger parents have in sending their children to school is that they may become so influenced by secular culture, they may lose their strong Catholic identity that is so important among this lovely community. Gratefully, there are a few Catholic schools who are doing what they can to assist a few of these families, but funding is still needed for many others.

We are praying for the necessary means to help as many of these families as possible, but we cannot do it without your support. For those of you who have contributed in recent months, thank you. We ask that you consider helping us again. A gift from you now would help us to support these families and sustain us in all our ministries to those in need and in our Franciscan way of life. For those who have not given in a while, we thank you ahead of time for your generosity. As the line in the popular hymn attributed to St. Francis of Assisi goes, "It is in giving that we receive."
May the Lord bless you and all of your loved ones.

Peace and All Good,
Br. Conrad Richardson, fbp Community Servant