This Advent, CRS invites you to Prepare Prayerfully, Shop Responsibly and Give Generously.
Spread the joy of Christmas far and wide. Give from your heart and bring the spirit of a truly authentic Christmas to your family this year.
Joy to the World is CRS' version of an “Alternative Christmas Gift-Giving Drive” - a growing movement to bring focus on the blessings of Christmas and provide ways for people to honor loved ones by giving gifts that gives twice – once by helping the poor overseas and also by honoring those on your gift giving list.
Through a Joy to the World, alternative Christmas gift-giving drive, you and your parishioners or classmates will give the gift of clean water, education, food, and healthcare to the poorest and most vulnerable people around the globe, bringing Joy to the World!
A gift that spreads joy to others in need can give us and those we honor a great deal of joy!
As the Lord says, there is always more joy in giving than in receiving (Acts 20:35).
Together, we can bring joy to people in 100 countries around the world.
Prepare Prayerfully
Advent (ad-venio in Latin or "to come to") begins the Church year and consists of the four Sundays before Christmas. The Advent season is a time of preparation for the anniversary of the Lord's birth on Christmas.
Advent Prayer
Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a wonder at the wisdom and power of Your Father and ours. Receive my prayer as part of my service of the Lord swho enlists me in God's own work for justice.
Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a hunger for peace: peace in the world, peace in my home, peace in myself.
Come, long-expected Jesus. Excite in me a joy responsive to the Father's joy. I seek His will so I can serve with gladness, singing and love.
I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, whose advent I hail. Amen.
Prayer provided by Catholic.org
Homilies
Homily Helps Weeks 1-4
Daily Advent Reflections Calendar
Week One, Daily Advent Reflections (November 30 to December 6)
Week Two, Daily Advent Reflections (December 7-13)
Week Three, Daily Advent Reflections (December 14-20)
Week Four, Daily Advent Reflections (December 21-24)
Shop Responsibly (Gifts that give twice)
Tis the Season to Shop Responsibly
We can avoid letting Advent and Christmas devolve into a shopping spree by honoring the season with thoughtful, fairly traded gifts for friends and family. Fair Trade is a just and sustainable partnership between producers and consumers. U.S. Catholics have a special role to play. Together, our dollars can bring joyful gifts to our loved ones, as well as a joyful gift to our brothers and sisters overseas. Choose from:
Tis the Season to Bring Responsible Shopping to Others!
Host a Work of Human Hands Sale
Read how a Fair Trade Christmas baskets helped a community build connections around the corner and around the world.
Tis the Season to Bring Joy to Others!
CRS Gift Catalog
This online catalog invites you to buy a share of an existing project that helps to feed the poor, promote better health and self-sufficiency, and build a better society through a variety of lifesaving and hope-inspiring programs. Buy a project share in honor of a loved one and e-mail a beautiful card to let them know of your generosity in their name.
"CRS staff Jaime Dominguez examines the variety of fair trade goods available at the fair trade Christmas sale held at CRS' headquarters every year." Photo by Jim Stipe/CRS
Give Generously
Help your community bring "Joy to the World" this Christmas.
Organize a Joy to the World Alternative Christmas Gift-Giving Drive
Promote the giving of gifts to CRS humanitarian programs in recognition of friends and loved ones. Here are resources to create a Joy to the World Alternative Christmas Gift Drive at your parish or school. Collect monetary donations after masses, assemblies or on a special day during advent. Use these resources to promote and recognize the gifts.
Promote Giving Online through your Bulletin or Newsletter
Direct your community to give a gift to CRS online, in honor of another person, in celebration of Christmas, or in memory of a loved one. Individuals can send recognition of their gift by e-mail or you can download a Christmas card to present to that special person.
Include CRS in Your Catalog
If your parish is putting together a catalog of charities, here is a paragraph of information about Catholic Relief Services.
Bring "JOY to the WORLD" this Christmas!
Catholic Relief Services invites you to bring Joy to the World- the entire world- where CRS works to sustain lives and improve livelihoods through access to schools and books, better seeds and stronger crops, medical care that is closer to home, a reliable food supply, clean water and adequate sanitation.
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of Catholics in the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS' work would not be possible without the prayers and generosity of thousands of donors in the United States. Your compassion helps bring lifesaving and community-building aid to the world's most poor, vulnerable and suffering people. Last year alone, we touched the lives of 100 million people. Thank you for opening your heart and easing their suffering.
Give on-line to CRS at www.crs.org or by mail: Catholic Relief Services, Joy to the World, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090
