Christmas will be here in 22 days . As Catholics , we know that the birth of our Lord Jesus defines the day . May we all have a blessed , joyful and safe Christmas .

   We live within a few miles of many people who don’t share our beliefs . But to nearly everyone , Christmas is a special time of the year . The family gatherings , the presents and the food make Christmas the best day of the year regardless of their religious leanings .

   We also know within a few miles of here there are many families who struggle , families whose Christmas may not resemble ours in many ways .

   Some of us grew up in prosperous families , others saw more than one Christmas as a child with few toys , and less than a feast on the table . This is a good time to recognize those families who are struggling, who will need our help to have a truly merry Christmas .

   The Knights will be having a toys for tots collection to go along with this Sunday’s breakfast . Our parishes giving tree benefits a half dozen worthy causes . There will be multiple places to donate food .

   Charity is the first principle of our order . Hopefully , at this time of the year, charity is simply part of who we are , as Catholics , Knights , Americans and human beings . 

   December 26th we will wake up feeling good about what we did for our families and loved ones at Christmas . Some others will wake up feeling grateful for the strangers who helped to give their family a special Christmas . We won’t know the names and faces of those we helped out , but it will make our December 26th even better knowing we did help out .