Deacon struck by Christmas generosity

By Christina Galeone  | CFP Correspondent

WORCESTER – During the Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope’s most recent Christmas Giving Program, there were a few memorable encounters that stood out to Deacon Walter Doyle, who founded and runs the nonprofit with his wife, Kathy Doyle. One was with a well-dressed mother of three who had fear in her eyes when she approached Deacon Doyle to see if her family qualified for the program. When the woman, who said she had never been unemployed before the COVID-19 pandemic, learned that her family was qualified and was introduced to a couple that had just made a generous donation, Deacon Doyle said that the fear was replaced by peace.
Another was with a program participant who won the nonprofit’s 50/50 raffle. The woman, whose only Christmas gifts for her family had been the ones coming from the program, was so elated that she would have money for her family’s Christmas dinner and celebration, she said, “I know I shouldn’t be doing this, but …,” and hugged him.
Those were just two of the many people who, along with Deacon Doyle, are overjoyed at the success of the apostolate’s  2020 Christmas Giving Program. Despite the pandemic-related challenges, the program provided about 1,650 local children in need with Christmas gifts. And it provided Deacon Doyle with a rare opportunity to see how even a global pandemic can’t stop God’s goodness and blessings from empowering a Christ-centered apostolate.   
Each year, the apostolate’s program strives to provide two or three gifts for each registered child. In a normal year, it partners with 54 parishes to fill all the gift requests, which are distributed via parish giving trees. This past Christmas, in addition to partnering with several parishes, the nonprofit distributed hundreds of virtual tags through its website, www.urbanmissionaries.com, and it raised $25,100 through a GoFundMe campaign.
Although Deacon Doyle said that the number of children registered was about the same as in previous years, he believes that it was due to the lack of the referrals from social services agencies limited by pandemic restrictions. But while the need was the same, the outpouring of generosity far exceeded his hopes. He said that the nonprofit ended up raising 150 percent of what they needed. With the extra funds, the program was able to provide a warm coat to nearly every child it served. And money was put toward the 2021 program.
“The generosity was outstanding … astounding!” Deacon Doyle beamed. He later added, “It was just surreal. The gifts kept coming in.”   
He said that not only were the parishes that found creative ways to have socially distanced “giving trees” amazing, but he was also very moved by the number of people who revealed that they were praying for the program’s success. Additionally, he’s grateful for the volunteers who had to work harder due to pandemic-related processing restrictions.
“An awful lot of people did something to help this program get to the end,” Deacon Doyle said. “It’s just great. Without them, it doesn’t happen.” 
The deacon is also touched by the kindness, humility and gratitude of the families the program serves. Their reactions to receiving the gifts are often heartfelt and poignant.
“It’s humbling; you go out and don’t think you’re doing very much,” Deacon Doyle shared. He added, “It doesn’t change me. It confirms what I do.” 
Recently, Deacon Doyle said that one of the nonprofit’s workers sent him a thoughtful note thanking him and telling him that the Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope is like an oasis of peace in a world of calamity. For the deacon, it’s also the place where Christ’s miracle of the loaves and the fishes from the Gospel is reflected.
“That’s the one that touches me the most,” he said of the Gospel readings he ponders every year. “The good Lord blesses us with thousands and thousands of gifts.”

– If you would like to make a financial contribution to the mission, go to www.urbanmissionaries.com, or you can bring items to donate to the Little Store at 242 Canterbury St., Worcester; or call 508-831-7455.