Begun in our St. John – St. Paul Collaborative, Spirit of Sharing is a Christmas gift program that has brightened the Christmas season for thousands of young boys and girls living at risk for hunger in Lawrence, Massachusetts. When Rev. Paul O’Brien, uncle of three St. John’s School alumni, began serving as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Lawrence, he discovered that many parents worked three jobs yet could not afford to provide Christmas presents to their sons and daughters. Spirit of Sharing was founded to share our community’s time and treasure with members of this faithful, family-oriented, and financially impoverished community just about thirty miles away.
With the help of many teen and adult volunteers, we collect donations from our area and then, on the Saturday before Christmas, categorize and display them, greet the parents, and assist them in selecting gifts for their children.
Father Paul recently wrote:
With 90,000 residents, Lawrence is the most of-color community in New England (88% people of color, 81% Hispanic), the fastest growing community in Massachusetts (10% growth in the last census), and one of the youngest (average age 32). With double the Massachusetts poverty rate (18%) and half of the state’s average per capita income ($27,827), two-thirds of Lawrence’s homes are headed by single parents. Fine young families living in this gateway city struggle, and often fail, to make ends meet.
Most people here in Lawrence have a deep faith in Jesus and a remarkable work ethic. For me, they offer real hope for the growth of America as a nation of love and justice. The support offered through Spirit of Sharing makes the Christmas season an entirely brighter reality for families in Lawrence. It is a very real unfolding of the grace of Christmas.
We Invite You to Donate Gifts for Children in One of the Following Ways
Donate a gift via the Spirit of Sharing 2025 Charitable Gift Registry. Please order as soon as possible, by Saturday, December 13 at the latest. Gifts will be shipped directly to the Spirit of Sharing program.
Shop for a gift in person. Cheerful brand new items for boys and girls ages 3 to 14, including: jackets, vests, sweatshirts, tops, hats, socks; Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins spirit wear; Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, LEGO, Barbie, GI Joe, & NASA products; dolls, playsets, other toys; stuffed animals; building blocks; learning games; science sets; arts & crafts; books; small hair dryers & cosmetics; regulation-size basketballs, footballs, soccer balls; scooters, tricycles, bicycles; and warm blankets & sleeping bags.
Kindly drop your item(s) off at our home (158 Glen Road, Wellesley) by Friday, December 19. Items may also be shipped to the O’Brien home (158 Glen Road, Wellesley, MA 02481) – please be sure to send by Saturday, December 13 so they arrive in time.
Donate funds for gifts. Make a tax-deductible contribution and we’ll do the shopping for you: SpiritOfSharing2025 Please make your contribution by Wednesday, December 17.
We Invite Teens and Adults to Volunteer on Saturday, December 20 at St. Patrick
Adults and teens (age 14 and up) are needed to help set up and mind gift displays or help parents choose gifts for their children. Please come to St. Patrick Parish (118 South Broadway, Lawrence) on Saturday, December 20, 8:00am to Noon. (Community service certificates provided upon request for students!)
Your contributions and service will help bring joy this Christmas to children living in Lawrence.
For questions, kindly contact: Father Paul’s sister-in-law Marlene O’Brien at marleneobrien99@gmail.com or Kelly Jacobs/kleerjacobs@comcast.net, Lucy Kapples/lkapples@comcast.net, Sally Miller/sallymiller5@msn.com, or Stephanie Morgan/smorgan1220@verizon.net