Spotlight: Outreach in Love

Spotlight: Outreach in Love

If you have ever called the CCF, you might have spoken with Amanda Glass, our Database Manager, who has answered your questions with care, concern, and gratitude.

A couple of days ago, Amanda shared a meaningful experience with the team that she and her family had with a ministry called Outreach in Love (OIL), a religious education program offered for people living with intellectual and/or physical challenges.

Amanda, her husband Thomas, and their beautiful daughter Cover attended the OIL Christmas party, and for the first time ever, 14-year-old Cover was able to sit on Santa’s lap! While the party was held at St. Edward the Confessor, OIL is a collaboration among several Richmond parishes. I found a nice description on the website of one of the involved churches, St. John Neumann in Powhatan here, and you can see pictures from the party on the OIL Facebook page here.

But enough from me and the internet…Here is what Amanda had to say about the party:

“Cover had never been to “see Santa” before, so she was enamored with him. She sat on his lap 4 times and never took her eyes off him.  She had all these questions in the car about his sleigh and if the reindeer would be there.  I tried to share that this was just Santa’s helper friend, but she just followed him around the entire time giving him sweet treats.  They decorated cookies and sang songs and Cover loved that Fr. Paul, Fr. Joe and Fr. Don came by to say hello to her personally.  We felt a joyful, warm welcome from each and every one of the phenomenal volunteers, who ranged in age from elementary school to adulthood!  It was such a heartwarming event, and I figured we all could use a bit of Christmas cheer to start the day!”

If that testimonial isn’t enough to fill your quota of Christmas cheer, here is a picture of Cover and the big man himself:

God Bless,
Margaret

Margaret Keightley
Executive Director
Catholic Community Foundation of the Diocese of Richmond