Faith & Charity: Lessons from a First Communion Gift
Perhaps fittingly, our family’s Chalice story begins with a gift – but not the kind you likely expect. Instead, it begins with a sacramental gift. First Holy Communion.
Our son William’s First Communion was a blessed day, and for many reasons is one we will never forget. The Mass, the first one our parish conducted outdoors due to the pandemic, was beautiful in its open-air simplicity. William was one of three boys receiving his First Holy Communion, and was excited, eager, and somewhat overwhelmed to receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time.
With the pandemic, our family’s get-together after Mass was small. Opening gifts – always a hit for an eight-year-old (and his two younger siblings) – was a highlight. While William received many thoughtful gifts to encourage his blossoming faith, his Godfather and Aunt’s gift made a special impression on him, and upon our entire family.
The gift arrived in a beautifully designed 9x12 envelope – William’s talented Aunt always gives things a special touch. Upon opening it, William found two checks inside - one for him to add to his bank account and one with special instructions:
Leave it up to William’s Aunt and Godfather to create a gift filled with such truth, goodness and beauty!
Though simple in its concept, the gift profoundly linked the virtues of charity and Catholic faith – a message that we don’t hear often enough. It set the stage for a beautiful lesson for William and our family regarding faith and the power of giving.
Charity – the virtue by which we love ourselves and our neighbor for the sake of God – is something we try to live every day in our family. William, who has a big heart and compassionate nature, has had the opportunity to volunteer and discover the blessings that come with giving. With this new check burning a hole in his pocket, he couldn’t wait to get to work helping people.
As we discussed options for his gift, the first thing William realized is that giving is not as simple as it sounds. “But Mom, there are so many great charities that could use this money!” he exclaimed. A lesson that we adults know all too well.
We worked with William to put together a list of what he would look for in a charity. First, he wanted a “really Catholic” charity. It needed to live out Catholic virtues throughout its ministry, practicing values like protecting life. Second, it needed to help the poor in a visible and impactful way.
With a little guidance from me, William logged into our computer and began his search. Beginning with articles and reviews about Catholic charities, we narrowed William’s list based on his goal of helping the poor with his donation.
One charity kept coming to the top of his list: Chalice. It was a new charity for us, though from our research we discovered its significant presence in Canada. Visiting the website – both the Canadian and US versions – we were met with stories and pictures of real impact on children and families in developing countries, as well as – and for William this was key – a focus on faith. He even saw quotes from Saints he knows! In William’s words, “Of all the Catholic charities, Chalice was the only one that focused on our Catholic faith in addition to helping the poor.”
While William (and our entire family), wanted to sponsor a child, for the purpose of this donation we needed a specific cause. William was drawn to Chalice’s healthcare program because, “Everyone needs to be healthy – even more than they need food.” Feeling strongly about having found the right fit, William wrote a note to Chalice and sent in his check – the snail mail way. I might add, had William sent an electronic donation that likely would have been the end of the story.
But the story grows richer. A few weeks after William mailed his donation, he received a two-page personal letter from Father Rich LoBianco, the US National Director of Chalice, thanking him for his contribution.
“Coming to the Table of Jesus for the first time, and nourished by his love and goodness in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, you in turn nourished the lives of our children and families we serve in our Chalice mission, in fifteen countries at 57 mission sites around our world,” Father LoBianco wrote. He expressed the organization’s gratitude for William’s “gift from the heart” and asked if he would be willing to be featured in a Chalice e-newsletter. William’s smile was ear-to-ear. And to Father’s request, a resounding, “Yes!!”
To say that Father LoBianco’s letter made a significant impact on William is an understatement. Receiving that letter strengthened William’s belief in the power of giving, and in no small way confirmed the goodness and beauty of his Catholic faith. It prepared his heart to listen to God’s future calls to help others, knowing that with charity and God’s grace, anything is possible.
As parents, the letter also demonstrated the love and faith with which Chalice carries out its mission. For a National Director to reach out and make such a difference in our son’s life showed us the heart with which Chalice does its work. It became clear to us that the Holy Ghost had been working from the start, beginning with the Sacrament of Eucharist, to lead our entire family to this organization.
Recently William had a video call with Father LoBianco (and was humbled to learn that he was the topic of a homily), and our family started the process of sponsoring a child. What began as a First Communion gift has blossomed into what we hope will be lasting impact in a child’s life – and undoubtedly a lasting impact on William and our family.
So many unexpected blessings have flowed through this exchange. And our family’s personal story doesn’t begin to touch on the countless graces which come from the work of Chalice throughout the world, helping children and families grow in Christ and live to their fullest potential.
Through this experience we have been witnesses to the work of the Holy Ghost in our midst. It is humbling, and beautiful.
Julie Crafton
www.grace-full.com
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