On Dec. 16-17, the Office of Religious Education, in cooperation with many generous parish communities, is hosting a series of events to collect needed faith formation and education resources for the children, families, and catechists in the Diocese of Lake Charles, LA after the devastation caused by hurricanes Laura and Delta. These events, a Posadas Pickup Pilgrimage, will take place across four dioceses.

In the Diocese of Birmingham, the parishes and their pickup times are St. Paul’s, Athens, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 8-9 a.m.; Sacred Heart, Cullman, Wednesday, Dec. 16,10:30-11:30 a.m.; Holy Family, Birmingham, Dec. 16, 1-2 p.m.; Holy Spirit, Tuscaloosa, 3:30-4:30 p.m. The pickup will take place in the parking lots of the parish communities listed.

The items needed are: Bibles; Catechisms – Donated catechetical series must include multiple, usable copies of student textbooks, along with associated teacher materials; Office supplies – pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, dry erase boards/markers, desks, chairs, A/V equipment, computers, printers; Craft supplies – scissors, crayons, colored pencils, markers, yarn, construction paper, butcher paper, craft kits, and rosary kits. All of these items can be used in good condition or new.

In addition to the collection, these events will provide an opportunity for Catholic educators to gather out-of-doors for a short, prayerful celebration of the Posadas, a beautiful Hispanic tradition reenacting the journey of the Holy Family to Bethlehem.