The Advent/Christmas Sharing Calendar invites us to count our blessings every day between now and Epiphany. For anyone not up on their biblical history, the Epiphany commemorates the arrival of the Magi - the three wise ones who bestowed priceless gifts upon the Christ Child.

This very special calendar reminds us of what Peace on Earth truly means. There can be no peace when 86 percent of the world’s resources are consumed by 20 percent of the population. There can be no peace when 30,000 children die every day from preventable diseases and hunger. There can be no peace when in many countries, simply being a woman can be a death sentence.

To create your own Advent Sharing Calendar gift box, take a small box, put a slot in the lid, and then wrap it in Christmas paper. Reflect on your blessings each day of Advent, placing monetary gifts in the box. The Diocese of Owensboro asks that you consider sharing these gifts with the impoverished Diocese of Mandeville. Bishop Boyle came to the Diocese of Owensboro and told of the plight of his people: 70% of the population is unable to find work; 7% of the people have no toilet facilities--they use the woods, which causes health problems in the country; there is no running water in most homes; people have to spend hours a day walking to get water from public wells and bring it back home. The Catholic Church in Mandeville is working mightily to help raise these people out of the inhuman conditions in which they live, but they need our help their many needed ministries.

On the Epiphany - January 6th, please add up the donations in the box, and consider gifting the Diocese of Mandeville with your funds. To make processing donations easier on the Mandeville diocese, make out a check for the amount to "Diocese of Owensboro," and be sure to put "For Diocese of Mandeville" in the memo line or indicate where the donation should go in a note. Mail check to: Diocese of Owensboro, 600 Locust Street, Owensboro, KY 42301.

Gifts may be added as follows:

December 1st - For every finger and toe on your children’s hands and feet, intact and unblemished by land mines add 5 cents. There are an estimated 10 million live mines still buried in Afghanistan placing children at greatest risk.

December 2nd - For every female in your family who is free to go to school, pursue a career, or walk openly in the street, add 50 cents.

December 3rd - Add 10 cents for every time you’ve voted in a democratically held election.

December 4th - Add $1.00 if your drinking water is safe. More than five million people die every year from illnesses caused by drinking poor quality water.

December 5th - Add 25 cents for every shower or bath taken by members of your family today. 3 billion people, half the planet, don’t have adequate water for sanitation.

December 6th - Add $ 1.00 for everyone you know with HIV. In 1998, 510,000 children died from HIV/AIDS.

December 7th - Add 50 cents if you can name your family doctor. Add $1.00 if you’ve paid a visit to his or her office this year.

December 8th - Add 5 cents for every year of your life untouched by civil war or conflict.

December 9th - Add 25 cents for every male in your family who hasn’t been conscripted into military service.

December 10th - Add 50 cents for everyone you know who was in New York City on September 11th and survived. Add $1.00 for anyone you knew who didn’t.

December 11th - Add 50 cents for anyone in your family or circle of friends that serves the public as a policeman, firefighter or emergency medical technician. Now call them up and say thank you.

December 12th - Add 25 cents for every time you’ve called 911.

December 13th - If you’ve had a permanent address for more than six months, add 50 cents. If you own your own home, add $1.00.

December 14th - If you have open access to information through newspapers, the Internet, radio or television, add $1.00.

December 15th - Add 50 cents if you’ve ever written a letter to the editor. Add $1.00 if it was published.

December 16th - Add one cent for every book that you own. If you have more than 100 books, add $2.00.

December 17th - Add $1.00 if you have a library card. Add $2.00 if you’ve visited the library within the last six months.

December 18th - Add 50 cents for every one of your children who attends a publicly funded school. An estimated 855 million people worldwide cannot read or write, 705 million of them are women.

December 19th - Add $1.00 if you’ve ever sought legal council.

December 20th - Add $1.00 if you’ve ever been called for jury duty. Add $2.00 if you’ve been privileged enough to serve.

December 21st - On this, the darkest day of the year, add 2 cents for every light bulb in your house. Don’t forget your Christmas lights!

December 22nd - If you’re free to visit with friends and family this Christmas, add $1.00.

December 23rd - Add $1.00 if you’ve sung Christmas carols this season. Add $2.00 if you sang them in public.

December 24th - Add $1.00 if you attend the church of your choice without the threat of persecution.

December 25th - If your family celebrates Christmas Day with a sumptuous feast, add $5.00.

December 26th - If you didn’t recycle Christmas wrappings and boxes, add $1.00.

December 27th - Add $1.00 if you had fast food today. One billion people suffer from obesity in the developed world. In the developing world, one billion people are starving.

December 28th - If you have a drug plan, add $1.00.

December 29th - If you have a pension plan, add $2.00.

December 30th - If you’ve every collected employment insurance or disability benefits, add $2.00.

December 31st - Add $5.00 if you attend or host a New Year’s Eve party.

January 1st - Add 10 cents for everyone you called to say Happy New Year!?

January 2nd - Add 50 cents for every member of your family who received a flu shot this winter.

January 3rd - Add 50 cents for every member of your family who has lived past 70 years of age. In Zambia, life expectancy has dropped from 50 to 40 years since 1990.

January 4th - Consider how fortunate you are. And then consider that 600 million children live in merciless poverty.

January 5th- Sit down with your family and decide where you would like to send the contents of your Advent Sharing box. Suggestions include: Diocese of Mandeville, that serves people in dire poverty or other organizations like UNICEF, international aid efforts to Afghanistan or September 11th memorial funds.

January 6th (The Epiphany) - Add up the contents of your Advent Sharing Box and then write a check for that amount payable to your favorite charity or send a check payable to "Diocese of Owensboro" (with "For Diocese of Mandeville" in memo line) to Diocese of Owensboro, 600 Locust Street, Owensboro, KY 42301.

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The Advent Sharing Calendar was created by Suzanne Elston, of Canada.