Religious stuff in Mail from missionary organizations

[CBailey]

Sometimes I get requests for donations to various missionary organizations, priestly orders, Catholic groups, etc. (I must be on a list).
When they send me mail, they sometimes include cheap medals or tiny plastic statues of Jesus or homely cards, and so on. I don’t want these items. Is it okay to throw them away? What do I do with them?

 

[moira]

I constantly get requests from religious organizations. I give the little medals and cards to my children. They like it because they think they’ve gotten mail. You are under no obligation to pay for or keep them. But I don;t like to throw medals away.

 

[Benedictus]

I’ve been known to throw this kind of thing away, but I might keep medals and such. In general, the group’s fundraising tactics will misfire with me: when they send me this kind of thing in the mail, I’m far less likely to give them money.

 

[Elizabeth_B]

I get tons of items – I assume the Catholic periodicals I’ve subscribed to have sold my name and address. Rather than throw it away, I either award the items as prizes to my CCD students are pass them on to one of the teachers at our parish school.

 

[Carolyn]

I don’t know what to do with these letters either. Some of the causes sound so needful but obscure… how do I know if they aren’t just some big scam?! I feel guilty not sending anything… how are these little organizations funded? Do they get any monies from the Catholic Services appeal or any of the other donations we make into special envelopes throughout the year at Mass?
I feel weird throwing these requests out, but I receive quite a few of them…

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I give the medals, rosaries etc to sister for use as prizes. Cards, pictures and such go into her cut-up box for use in cut and paste projects. The letters go into the trash.

 

[Seatuck]

Love that CCD idea. I usually bring them to church and put them in a box on a table by the door. People seem to take them and others also donate them there. I will ask the CCD teachers I know if they would like them.

 

[Meggie]

I got something from somewhere I don’t know who it is…I call him my little saint…hes about two inches tall. He is dressed in green with a deep maroon cloak…he has a sniny medal on his chest and a staff in his right hand…there is a flame of fire on his head…I don’t know what his name is but I like him…

 

[cove]

CBailey:

Sometimes I get requests for donations to various missionary organizations, priestly orders, Catholic groups, etc. (I must be on a list).
When they send me mail, they sometimes include cheap medals or tiny plastic statues of Jesus or homely cards, and so on. I don’t want these items. Is it okay to throw them away? What do I do with them?

Does you church have a hospital ministry??? Or a minsitry that visits the elderly in their homes or at assisted living centers???

I would suggest donating these items to them so they can distribute them to people who may find comfort in them.

God Bless

 

[Les_Richardson]

Meggie:

I got something from somewhere I don’t know who it is…I call him my little saint…hes about two inches tall. He is dressed in green with a deep maroon cloak…he has a sniny medal on his chest and a staff in his right hand…there is a flame of fire on his head…I don’t know what his name is but I like him…

Aye, he’d be a wee Leprechaun, don’t you know! Just so long as his cloak were not orange, of course.

 

[CatholicGeek]

I have a number of good, Catholic charities that I give to regularly, so I don’t feel very obligated to respond to unsolicitated mail. I feel that I’m on every Catholic mailing list that’s out there.

Occasionally, I may give to one of these, but I think that is probably one of the reasons I get so much of this kind of mail. (Even from Catholic Answers too!)

Other times, I’ll return their replay envelope with a note asking to be removed from their mailing list, if only to save them some money in the future.

Gifts - keep, toss or give away. They are not “blessed” yet.

The big thing for me is to be able to give from my heart, not from an imposed obligation or guilt. Christ brings freedom to the oppressed. Even if it is only mail!