St. Andrew: A reminder to serve others and love your neighbor

By Ashley Lahr

As November comes to a close and Thanksgiving bellies begin to deflate, I am reminded what Catholic Charities of Central Texas is here for: to continue to make a difference in people’s lives by creating hope and providing help. One ultimate example of this is St. Andrew, whose feast day is today, November 30.

St. Andrew was an Apostle and the brother of Simon Peter, both of which were fisherman. Andrew became one of the first disciples of Christ and left everything behind to follow Him.



St. Andrew was not only one of the first disciples but he also dropped everything to follow Jesus without hesitation. It is hard to imagine what this must have been like for him and how drastically his life changed thereafter. Catholic Charities is a light for men just as St. Andrew was for those that listened to him. Providing help and creating hope for others come through love and faith and sharing gifts that we have been given.

Being fishers of men is an analogy that is used often in the Christian community, but what does this really mean for us and for those we help? At Catholic Charities, we are called to seek out those that need help and hope everyday. We work to find those that need assistance or help not because those in need are Catholic, but because we are. Catholic Charities serves everyone regardless of age, faith, ethnic background, and economic circumstance. We set out each day to find new ways to help those who cannot find or provide the resources needed to get through each day.

For example our Angel of Hope Food Pantry feeds nearly 150 families each week. In 2008, we served over 5,000 pounds of food and grocery products each week. The food pantry also works to raise awareness of hunger, health and nutrition. In addition, the food pantry is a place for neighbors to help neighbors through donations, volunteer work or food.

Another example is our Immigration and Legal Services which has been operating for 7 years. ILS works with families and individuals to become self sufficient through the immigration process with low-fee legal costs. In the 7 years of operation, we have assisted 4,881 clients with immigration needs.

As we delve deeper into this holiday season, let us not forget why we are helping and what we can do to become of greater service to those around us. St. Andrew is a prime example of what it means to follow Christ’s example and how we can work together to love our neighbors and help those who need it.