Denver Catholic

CH R I STMA S G IVI N G T he secular spectacle of the hol- iday season is often a distrac- tion for Catholics who want to focus on the real reason for the season — our Lord's birth. This year has provided even more distractions with worries about the pandemic, the election, the econ- omy, and social unrest. The events of 2020 put us back on our heels — and often on our knees in prayer. Our faith has taught us to trust our Lord as God's promise remains unchanged since the days of Abraham. "Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel" (Is 7:14). As you reflect on this year, you may be inspired to celebrate Christ's birth with a gift to His Church. There are many ways you can share the pros- perity the Lord has bestowed upon you with the ministries and charities around the Archdiocese of Denver. The Archbishop's Catholic Appeal supports over 40 ministries that work each day to extend God's promise to his believers. We also have our semi- naries, the Prophet Elijah House priest's retirement home, Annunciation Heights summer camp, Seeds of Hope scholar- ship fund and Centro San Juan Diego for Hispanic outreach. Here are some questions I often receive from people contem- plating a donation to the archdiocese. Q. How do I decide where to give? A. Ask God to guide you in your giving and seek his assistance in setting your priorities. Visit websites to see which charitable causes touch your heart. You can read about the Archdiocese of Denver's 40 ministries in the Denver Catholic and on the webpage: impact.archden.org/stories. If you want more children to receive a Catho- lic Education – support Seeds of Hope. If you are concerned about the forma- tion of our priests – support the Semi- naries Appeal. What other Archdiocese of Denver ministries inspire you? Q. How do I determine how much to give? A. Think about sacrificial giving and have a budget. Your Christmas giving plan can be similar to your budget for your Christmas shopping for family and friends. Make a list. Reflect on a favorite Bible passage or on what matters most to your family as you reflect on your list. "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least of brothers of mine, you did for me" (Mt 25:40). Q. The more I give, the more I get to deduct on my taxes, right? A. Yes! This year, the CARES Act added more benefits for your tax deductions when you make a chari- table donation. There are also special deductions like the Child Care Tax Credit available for gifts to Annunci- ation Heights that afford additional tax advantages. You can also give Discerning the right Christmas Offering 26 DECEMBER 2020 | DENVER CATHOLIC

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