Description

Consider helping our parish outreach ministry raise $15,000 this Lent to help meet the needs of Oshkosh’s poorest -  with a special focus on pro-life causes.  Learn more.

Why Almsgiving?

Almsgiving (giving) is a response to God, one that we can come to through prayer and fasting. It is a way to live out our gratitude for all that God has given us, reflecting the realization that we are the Body of Christ, responsible for each other. Justice, mercy, and charity are integral elements  of our baptism that call us to be disciples of Jesus.
 
Charitable giving is a very ancient practice; almsgiving was normative long before the time of Jesus.  At its core, almsgiving is a spiritual and religious practice that strengthens our love for others, increases our detachment and contributes to greater social justice. 

The Lenten call to almsgiving means making the needs of other people our own. One of the central lessons of the cross is compassion; the heavy burdens we carry help us to appreciate the suffering in others.