The Rev. Reginald Samuels asked parishioners to donate to the church to help with projects and programs, according to a church bulletin for St. Hyacinth Catholic Church (STHY) in Deer Park, Texas.

"This holiday season will present many ways in which our community can show its generosity," Samuels wrote. "The Christmas season and the time for giving are just around the corner. The 2020 STHY Christmas gift list has been released and this presents a great opportunity to support our parish in a special way to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Check out the list in the bulletin and see how you can share the gift of Christmas with STHY."

Samuels said Jesus offered a parable about being prepared to meet him that reinforces the importance of discipleship.

"Unfortunately this year due to Church COVID-19 guidelines, we will not be able to place the STHY Angel tree in the narthex of the Church; however, the 2020 Angel Tree project will continue in a new way with the gift of gift cards," Samuels wrote. "We are asking everyone to donate gift cards in the amount of $20 - $40 this year."

He noted that cash couldn't be accepted and that gift cards could only be placed in special clear collection boxes at the front of the church.

"For the month of November, The Book of the Names of the Dead will be in the Baptistery area of the Church for those who want to write the names of deceased loved ones for whom we can pray," Samuels wrote. "One of the most beautiful responsibilities we have as Catholics is to pray for our dead. Through prayer, fasting and good works we offer on behalf of the deceased, we pray that God’s purification will be granted to all of the faithful departed so that they can obtain their soul’s desire, eternal life in heaven."

Samuels wrote that the gifts received in the weekly tithe is an act of stewardship and can be done by either parish envelopes or electronically.

"For 2020, Cardinal DiNardo has assessed our parish DSF goal at $84,000," he wrote. "This year, our parish has collected $61,887 toward our goal. We have until the end of the year to collect our goal. DSF supports more than 60 ministries and programs that serve the faithful of the Archdiocese and us here at St. Hyacinth."