Dear Friends,

Peace of Christ!

We are heading into the Christmas season. The first Sunday of Advent introduced us to the new translation of the liturgy, and I already have invitations to several Christmas parties, one Chanukka dinner, a couple of concerts and one wedding. This is a season when we invite others to come and share out celebrations, and other people invite us to come out and share theirs.

As we prepare to celebrate the feast of the Coming of Our Savior, let me invite you not to a party but to be a particular part of our work. Not just once, but throughout the coming year. At no charge to our clients, we provide books and other reading materials in Braille and large-print and audio to blind and visually-impaired people all over the United States. Our services are also available to those who for whatever reason cannot handle traditional print materials, including those with tremors, Parkinsons, dyslexia, spinal cord injuries and any other disability that prevents them from reading traditional print. We have periodicals and Mass Propers, we create materials for special occasions and on request for special needs, and more and more of our materials are becoming available via our web site on the internet. We are currently engaged in a major outreach program to veterans, and are working with a number of different veterans groups and Department of Defense agencies throughout the east coast.

We have a staff of 15, a Board of Directors of 12, almost 100 volunteers and individuals around the country who have agreed to be member of our National Advisory Council, to help provide special insight and assistance as we navigate the difficult financial times in which we find ourselves. And we have you.

You are reading this letter because I deeply hope you are a potential donor, someone who has helped support us in the past, or who has expressed an interest in the Xavier Society for the Blind and the work we do. I am writing this letter because we need you to help.

Christmas is a terrible time to be asking for money, and I know that. All sorts of charities are sending letters at this time, all sorts of agencies are telling you of the good work they do, and you have family and personal expenses at this time of year that stretch everyone’s budget to the limit. The economy has not improved, and the predictions are grim. People are struggling, and I hear from many people who apologize for not being able to give more.

Let me invite you to be radical this Christmas. Take a chance and give more than you can afford. Trust that God will reward your generosity. Instead of buying a token present for someone, give them a card that tells them that you have given a certain amount to the Xavier Society for the Blind. (We will supply you with the card, or send a card to that person in your name – you won’t even have to pay for the postage!) Take the gift you are thinking of giving and multiply it by 4, and give us a pledge for that amount over the next year. We’ll send you a card to remind you, and we’ll make sure you don’t get any more letters while the pledge is being paid off. If you really feel you need to give a physical present, buy one of our owls, or some of our CDs. You’ll have a lovely gift to give, and we will still benefit from your purchase. (And again, we pay for the postage.) All online at www.xaviersocietyfortheblind.org.

Jesus invites us to take a chance on His message of love and peace and forgiveness. But an important part of His message is also that we must take care of one another, especially those who have special needs. The clients we serve are not helpless; most are educated, independent and faithful individuals who cannot use their eyes as we can, and who need the Word of God in the special formats they can use. Helping them is what we do, and we cannot do it without your help.

Thank you for you generosity, and Merry Christmas!!!

Gratefully yours,

Fr. John R. Sheehan, SJ
Chairman