Dear Columban Friends,
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, many of us carry a renewed sense of hope, purpose, and possibility. The turning of the calendar invites us to reflect on where we have been and to consider how we can help shape a better future—for ourselves, for our communities, and especially for those who face challenges far greater than our own. It is in that spirit of generosity and shared responsibility that I reach out to you with this New Year’s appeal.
The past year has been a reminder that hardship does not wait for convenient moments. Families continue to struggle with rising costs, individuals face loneliness and uncertainty, and countless people are making impossible choices between food, medicine, and basic necessities. Yet during these difficulties, we have also witnessed profound resilience—made possible in no small part by people like you, whose compassion and support fuel the work that transforms lives.
As we begin this new year, our mission remains as urgent as ever. With your help, we can continue providing essential services to those who need them most: warm meals for the hungry, shelter for those without a home, educational opportunities for children, care for the elderly, and support for individuals striving to rebuild their lives. Each gift we receive becomes a lifeline, a sign that no one is forgotten, and a tangible act of love.
Your contribution, whether large or small, has the power to bring hope where it is fading and opportunity where it has been denied. A single act of generosity can open the door to stability for a struggling family, offer comfort to someone who feels alone, or allow a child to dream beyond the limits of their circumstances. When we give, we do more than meet immediate needs; we build foundations for lasting change.
This New Year, I invite you to join us in renewing our commitment to compassion. Your donation will make a real and immediate difference. It will help ensure that our programs can continue to operate, expand, and reach those who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Most importantly, your support affirms a simple but powerful truth: that we belong to one another, and that together, we can create a more just and caring world.
As you set your intentions for the year ahead, please consider including us in your plans for giving. Your kindness today will echo far beyond this moment, touching lives in ways you may never see but will always matter.
Thank you for your generosity, your trust, and your belief in the dignity of every person. May the new year bring you peace, joy, and the deep fulfillment that comes from making a difference.
Warmest wishes for a hopeful and compassionate New Year.
Gratefully yours in Christ,
Fr. Al Utzig | Director, U.S. Region
The Missionary Society of St. Columban is entrusted by the Holy Father with part of the Church’s mission to spread the Faith and saving work of Christ.” (Vat.II) The Society works under the guidance of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and under the leadership of the bishops. We are listed in the U.S. Official Catholic Directory published annually by P.J. Kennedy and Sons. As such, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service recognizes us as a religious not-for-profit corporation, therefore contributions to our work are tax deductible. We employ no outside professional fund-raisers and pay no commissions.
