More With Kjell Bergh

Kjell Bergh

In the January issue of Viking, we spoke with Minnesota business leader and Sons of Norway member Kjell Bergh. He came to the United States from Norway as a young journalist in 1965 and is now Chairman and CEO of Borton Volvo and Borton Overseas, a travel company that specializes in travel to Scandinavia. Bergh has led travel for royalty, dignitaries and head of state. In 2000, he was appointed Honorary Consul of the Republic of Tanzania. Here’s more of our interview.

Viking: Where do you hail from in Norway and what brought you to the United States? 
Kjell Bergh: I’m from Kristansund, Norway, which is just south of Trondheim. I came to the United States in 1965 as a freelance journalist. I was traveling across the country doing stories and taking odd jobs. I was actually on my way to Seattle to see my brother. I ended up in Minneapolis. I did just one semester at the University of Oslo and finished up at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn. In 2004, I went back to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Boston and got a Master’s degree in international relations.

V: Tell me about the travel services you’ve provided to dignitaries and royalty.
KB: In the 1960s, I became involved with helping plan transportation for Norway’s royal family. For all subsequent royal visits, I took care of the ground transportation, both in Iowa and Minnesota. I also had a large corporate limousine company, and we had a fleet of limos that facilitated that. Over the years, the royal family also asked me to take care of their airplanes. I took care of the jets, turbo props and flew with them on trips around the country.  One of the trips, we went had many stops in the Midwest and continued on to California. I also hosted the royal family in Africa. We’ve taken care of travel for the Ted Turner Family Foundation, Vice President Walter Mondale, senators and ambassadors to Africa.

V: You’ve held the position of Honorary Consul of the Republic of Tanzania since 2000. Why are you passionate about your ties to Africa?
KB: I’ve always been a world traveler. I’ve loved Africa from the first moment I started studying it. I married a Tanzanian just a year after the federal government and Supreme Court outlawed all bans on interracial marriage. In 1974, the Swedish ambassador to Tanzania and his wife invited us to go and spend two weeks at the Embassy residence. I fell in love with the place. I told my then-wife that I really felt at home! I have three home countries—Norway, the United States and Tanzania. I became acquainted with the Tanzanian ambassador to the United States. He was a member of three cabinets and ended up being the foreign minister and eventually the first democratically elected President. He’s the one who appointed me Honorary Consul.

Anya Britzius is associate managing editor of Viking. She lives in Minneapolis, Minn., and enjoys baking, reading and keeping up on modern Norwegian trends.

A Special Christmas Message from Sons of Norway's CEO

Dear Sons of Norway Members

Christmas is upon us and I want to take this opportunity to send you a message of good tidings from myself and the entire Sons of Norway Headquarters’ staff!

Every year, as the day draws near, I find myself reminiscing about Christmases past and all the great memories they have given me; the good times spent with family and friends, the sense of wonder I felt as a child and the feeling of hope I always get as we usher in a new year.  

This Christmas I hope you find yourself surrounded by your loved ones and sharing in the spirit of the season. Above all, I wish you all the hope, wonder and joy that Christmas can bring!


Merry Christmas
Eivind Heiberg
CEO
Sons of Norway

Must-See Christmas Special

The St. Olaf Choir at Nidaros Cathedral

The St. Olaf Choir from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., is one of the premier a capella choirs in the United States. Now, you can enjoy their music from the comforts of your own home this holiday season!

Starting Dec. 23, PBS will air a one-hour special called “Christmas in Norway with the St. Olaf Choir,” featuring traditional carols, beloved Norwegian hymns and folk songs. 

This summer, the choir, led by conductor Anton Armstrong, embarked in its 100-year anniversary tour of Norway and performed in 11 concerts. While in Trondheim, the choir spent three days in Nidaros Cathedral and filmed this Christmas special.

Check your local listings. In the Twin Cities, the program can be seen on tpt2 at the following times:
•    Sun., Dec. 22, 7 p.m.
•    Mon., Dec. 23, 1 a.m.
•    Mon., Dec. 23, 8 p.m.
•    Tues., Dec. 24, 2 a.m.
•    Wed., Dec. 25, 9 a.m.

Keep an eye on the choir’s other events and purchase music at the St. Olaf Bookstore.

Anya Britzius is associate managing editor of Viking. She lives in Minneapolis, Minn., and enjoys baking, reading and keeping up on modern Norwegian trends.

Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast Recap

You may remember from an earlier blog post that Sons of Norway hosted the 28th annual Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast last month. The result was a resounding success! In addition to three great speakers from the Minneapolis community and an engaging MC, we had nearly 1,000 people in attendance!

What’s more, thanks to the generosity of our attendees, we were able to raise more than $15,000 for our selected charities, the Minnesota Military Family Foundation and Second Harvest Heartland. This money will be used to help families throughout Minnesota during times of difficulty and is greatly appreciated by all.

Just as important as the donations, the program itself was popular with the audience. So much so that we have been asked to share the presentations of this year’s featured speakers. Click here to read Dr. David Anderson’s speech and we'll hopefully have the others soon, which we'll be happy to share.

If you weren’t able to make it to this year’s breakfast, I hope you’ll read the remarks from last month and keep an eye out for next year’s event, which will be held on Tuesday, November 25, 2014.

Casting Call: "Alt for Norge"

"Alt for Norge" Season 3 contestants

Are you an adventurous Norwegian American looking to meet your relatives in Norway? The Emmy-winning Norwegian reality television show “Alt for Norge” is rounding up contestants for Season 5!

Contestants will travel to Norway and compete in cultural challenges, meet long lost Norwegian relatives and win a $50,000 cash prize.

Season 3 winner Todd Ferris meets his family in Norway

Here are a few requirements:
• Have never traveled to Norway
• Be of Norwegian descent
• Be at least 18 years old by February 16, 2014

If you want to hear first-hand what it was like being a "Alt for Norge" contestant, check out the June 2013 issue of Viking magazine where we talked with Season 3 winner Todd Ferris. You can also read the interview here. 


Ready to apply? There will be an open casting call in Minnesota at the Mall of America on Sat., Dec. 21.

Application and video submission deadline is January 5, 2014.

You can email any questions to castingnorway@gmail.com.

Anya Britzius is associate managing editor of Viking. She lives in Minneapolis, Minn., and enjoys baking, reading and keeping up on modern Norwegian trends.

Crossing the Line—Twice

Ever wondered whether it’s really true that the bottle of Linie Akuavit on your Christmas dinner table was loaded in the hold of a ship and sailed over the Equator and back?

Well, it’s true, and here’s the story.

In 1805, the cargo ship Trondhjem’s Prøve sailed with goods to Indonesia, including five oak casks of Norwegian “aqua vitae,” or water of life, made by distiller Jørgen B. Lysholm. The ship’s captain failed to sell the casks, and in December 1807 they returned to Trondheim. When the casks were opened and sampled a second time, Lysholm and friends discovered that the two years in the casks, plus the constant motion of the ship and the changing temperature and humidity, all dramatically enhanced the balance and aroma of their akuavit. Lysholm eventually joined with exporters to South American markets, regularly stowing oak barrels of akuavit on their ships, not to sell in Rio, but for the unique benefits of aging at sea.

Today, fresh batches of Linie casked in retired oak sherry barrels depart once a month for a 19-week voyage that can call in ports in up to 35 countries. On any given day more than one thousand barrels of akuavit are maturing as deck cargo on the world’s oceans.

Want to know where your bottle has been? It’s all right there on the backside of the label: dates of departure and arrival, and the route the akuavit traveled via Australia before returning to Norway.

For more about akuavit, modern-day distillers and even akuavit cocktail recipes, check out Viking’s December 2013 feature “A Scandinavian Spirit Revived” by Denise Logeland. Or visit Linie's website. 

Ann Pedersen is editor of Viking magazine. She lives and enjoys akuavit with her family in St. Paul, Minn.

Norway Inspires New Disney Film

©2013 Disney

If you’re in the mood for a family-friendly movie this holiday season, check out Disney’s new animated film, “Frozen,” now playing in theaters across the United States. Norway’s landscape, folklore and culture take center stage in the film.

Based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale The Snow Queen, “Frozen” is set in the fictional kingdom of Arendelle, which sits on a fjord. Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell) teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voiced by Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer, Sven. The group travels to find Anna’s sister and save the kingdom.

To get inspired to create this magical, frozen setting filled with ice castles, snow and mountains, filmmakers traveled to Norway and teamed up with Norway’s national tourist board, VisitNorway.

“Disney is well known around the world, and we hope that in providing the backdrop to the film, Norway will appeal to the film’s fans,” says Per-Arne Tuftin, director of tourism at Innovation Norway.

In addition to the spectacular scenery, filmmakers also were inspired by Norway’s traditional folk costume, the bunad. Keep your eyes peeled for a stave church and listen for several of the characters speaking Norwegian.

©2013 Disney

Check out Disney’s sweepstakes and enter for a chance to win a trip to Norway!

 
Anya Britzius is associate managing editor of Viking. She lives in Minneapolis, Minn., and enjoys baking, reading and keeping up on modern Norwegian trends.

Check This Mate: Magnus Carlsen Wins the World Chess Championship

As the chess world held its breath and watched on Friday, November 22, top-ranked Magnus Carlsen made his winning move in the championship match against defending world champion Viswanathan Anand to become the new reigning king of chess. Carlsen started playing chess at the age of five, setting himself the goal of beating his sister, then his father. The rest quickly became history, and at age 13 he became an International Grandmaster, the youngest at the time.

After the grueling weeks leading up to the tournament, Carlsen took the weekend off, playing basketball and soccer with members of the Norwegian media, and scoring points in both. Joined by his father and other members of Team Carlsen at the award ceremony in Chennai on Monday, Carlsen was presented with a gold medal, a trophy, laurel wreath, and a check for NOK 9 million (USD 1.4 million).

Stay tuned for future World Chess Championships—the next one may just be hosted by Norway. In the meantime, check out Viking’s profile of Carlsen in the September 2013 feature “Making Their Marks: Young Norwegians to Watch.”

Ann Pedersen is editor of Viking magazine. She lives with her family in St. Paul, Minn.

Happy Thanksgiving from Sons of Norway CEO Eivind Heiberg

With Thanksgiving coming up tomorrow, I find myself reflecting on the many things in my life for which I am thankful. In addition to the blessings of family, friends and good health, I am thankful for all the Sons of Norway members throughout North America and Norway.

Specifically I am thankful for their dedication to their lodges and communities as well as their passion for preserving Norwegian heritage and culture. Every day I hear about a lodge or group of members who are living the fraternal spirit by giving back to their community through events and volunteerism. It gives me a great sense of pride every time I hear one of these stories.

So, this Thanksgiving, I want you to know that I am thankful for all you and your fellow members are doing throughout the organization. I hope tomorrow is a day of peace, joy, appreciation and thankfulness. Also, if you find yourself in a moment of reflection on the things you are thankful for this year I hope you’ll share them with me by contacting me at ceo@sofn.com.

Fraternally

Eivind Heiberg
CEO
Sons of Norway

Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast: An Interview With Dr. Anderson

Today is the last day to purchase your tickets for the 2013 Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast and to mark the occasion we bring you an interview with St Olaf President, Dr. David Anderson. Not only is Dr. Anderson speaking at the event on the subject of Family & Friends, he's bringing the entire St Olaf Choir with him to perform for attendees. Keep reading to get a sneak preview of his presentation for next week!

SofN: Please tell us about your connection to the Nordic American community.

DA: On both my mother's and my father's side, my family emigrated from Norway in the 19th century, settling on both sides of Wisconsin, one in Westby, WI and the other near Columbus, WI.  I grew up eating lutefisk and lefse!  I belong to Torske Klubben, the Norwegian American dining society.  And I have the honor of serving as President of St. Olaf College.

SofN: Can you give us a sneak peek into what the audience can expect from your presentation?

DA: A short story about an adventure the mother's family had on their voyage to America from Norway followed by some thoughts on what light that experience might shed on our world today.

SofN: A person in your position is sure to have a very busy schedule. Can you tell us a little about what convinced you to speak at this year’s event?

DA: At St. Olaf we treasure our Norwegian-American heritage.  It is an honor to represent the College at this important event for Norwegian-Americans in the Twin Cities.

SofN: You’re this year’s speaker on the topic of Family & Friendship. Why is this an important topic to you?

DA: Family and friendship sustained the Norwegians who emigrated to America, many of them arriving with little more than hopes of a better life for their family.  Family and friendship continue to sustain the Norwegian-American community today.

SofN: This year the world renowned St. Olaf Choir will be performing at the Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast. Can you tell us about the choir and their upcoming performance? 

DA: The St. Olaf choir is one of the country's pre-eminent a cappella choirs. Last June the choir toured Norway, marking the 100th anniversary of its first tour to Norway.  The tour concluded with a magnificent concert in Trondheim Cathedral.  "A Christmas in Norway," a program recorded at the cathedral during that tour, will be broadcast on public television stations across the country this Christmas.  When not making beautiful music, the students in the choir are studying everything from music to chemistry, from physics to French.

Award-Winning Actress

Photo by Robyn Skjoldborg

In the November issue of Viking, we caught up with award-winning actress Ingrid Bolsø Berdal. She has appeared in Norwegian television shows and films, including “Hellfjord” and “Cold Prey”—which earned Berdal an Amanda Award for Best Actress. Now, she’s transitioning to the American market. Perhaps you’ve seen her in “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.” Look for her in next summer’s film, “Hercules: The Thracian Wars.” Here’s more of our interview.

Viking: You attended the Oslo National Academy of Dramatic Arts and started working in The Norwegian Theatre. Did that give you a good foundation for your career?

Ingrid Bolsø Berdal: Yes, of course. The education I got from the drama school was very thorough. It was three hard and intense years, and I learned a lot not only about acting, but also about myself. I'm so grateful I got to spend four years at The Norwegian Theatre, too. It gave me great experience and a good base for the work to come. I learned so much from watching and working with my colleagues.

V: You’ve played roles on stage, on television and in films. Do you have a favorite type of role?
IBB: I can't say that I have. We tell stories about people, and people are so different. I thrive the most when I'm surrounded by a creative team that I communicate well with. I love when everyone works toward the same goal and collaborates. The story should be interesting, that's the most important thing to me.

V: What has been the highlight of your career so far?
IBB: I'm really happy about a physical monologue I did a couple of years back. It was such a tough process. Preparing alone and being alone on stage was hard on many levels. But it went really well, and I'm actually astonished that I managed to pull through.

V: What are your future goals?
IBB: I wish to continue to do both theatre and film. I learn so much every time I do theatre. I get better as an actor. I love the rehearsal period, but unfortunately I tend to start getting bored playing the shows after a while, and that's a bit silly when the shows are what the audience pay money for and want to see! Luckily you can continue working on the scenes on stage if you have fun people that you're acting with. Film is faster, but then again we do the scenes once and then it is there on film forever. There’s no chance to develop more. I'd love to get to the place where I can chose what I want to do on a longer scale.

V: What do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
IBB: I play the bass in a hobby band. It's four guys and me—they are the best guys in the world! When I'm outside of Norway working I miss them so much. It's more like a club than a band.  And I really enjoy hanging out with my girlfriends. They are shining lights in my life.

V: Who are some actors you admire?
IBB: I was gobsmacked by Ian McShane's work in "Deadwood."


Anya Britzius is associate managing editor of Viking. She lives in Minneapolis, Minn., and enjoys baking, reading and keeping up on modern Norwegian trends.

Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast: An Interview with Brad Hewitt

Next Wednesday is the deadline to get your tickets for the 2014 Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast! If you haven't decided whether or not you want to be a part of this exciting event yet, then maybe this post will help. Today we have an interview with Thrivent CEO, Brad Hewitt who will be speaking to the audience on the topic of freedom.


SofN: Please tell us about your connection to the Nordic American Community?

Hewitt: None specifically other than living in the Twin Cities most of my life and being Lutheran, it is hard not be affected by the Nordic culture.
SofN: Have you ever attended the Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast before?

Hewitt: No, but I'm looking forward to it.

SofN: Can you give us a sneak peek into what the audience can expect from your presentation?

Hewitt: I'm going to give a little family history about fighting for freedom - struggles and successes:  my grandfather's generational – Scarcity, my father's generational - Security, and what I think our current freedom fight that we are engaged in - Surplus.

SofN: A person in your position is sure to have a very busy schedule. Can you tell us a little about what convinced you to speak at this year’s event?

Hewitt: Sons of Norway is a fellow fraternal benefit society, and I am honored to be asked to help in an important community event that they sponsor.

SofN: You’re this year’s speaker on the topic of Freedom. Why is this an important topic to you? 

Hewitt: Frankly I would have loved to talk about any of the three.  I like this one because I normally get asked to speak about the other two.  In America we value freedom – I value freedom, but I’m not sure I think about the implications and cost of it deeply enough.  When you are asked to speak about something it makes you think about it more deeply than normal.

SofN: Do you have a favorite quote or passage about freedom?

Hewitt: Yes, partly because I was just in South Africa -  Nelson Mandela – “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
SofN: As the CEO of a Fraternal Life Insurance Company, can you share with our readers the importance of supporting community events like the Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast?

Hewitt: Our mission is to guide people on the journey to be wise with money and generous.  We believe if you want to have a healthy relationship with money generosity is the best diagnostic tool and the best prescription.  Community events are a wonderful way to give back and encourage one another.

SofN: Can you share with our readers the role that fraternal organizations, like Thrivent and Sons of Norway, play in supporting local charities?

Hewitt: As a member owned organizations all we have is theirs.  For Thrivent part of our  goal is to inspire our members to be more generous, so  local churches and charities are the most common beneficiaries.

Hello from Viking’s new editor Ann Pedersen

As you probably read last week, Sons of Norway's Viking magazine has had a change in editors. In a post last Wednesday, long-time editor Amy Boxrud bid a fond farewell as she began an exciting new chapter in her life. And, as Amy mentioned in her last post, Viking has a new editor, Ann Pedersen, and we at Sons of Norway are very excited to welcome her to the magazine. We also would like to  introduce her to you, our dedicated readers. What follows is a post written by Ann about her background and connection to Norwegian heritage and culture.

Viking magazine: there were probably copies lying around on side tables at my grandparents’ farmhouse in western Minnesota when I was a kid. I confess I don’t remember. But the story of how they met at a Sons of Norway lodge meeting in 1937—and then eloped—is front and center in our family lore. They remained Sons of Norway members for their whole lives, and their pride in their Norwegian heritage was as much a part of them as the wheat they planted in the fields. Little could any of us have known that years later I would be writing—and now editor—for Viking.

My entre to Viking began when my good friend and Viking editor Amy Boxrud approached me to write a feature about progressive prisons in Norway (May 2011). Knowing nothing about prisons or the justice system in Norway, I accepted and dug into the research. It was the beginning of a wonderful writing adventure and collaboration with the magazine; the 1612 Battle of Kringen feature followed (August 2012), then the stave church feature “Cathedrals of Wood” (April 2013). The story of the Sloopers of 1825 and their ship The Restauration just came out in the October 2013 issue.

My familiarity with the magazine gets down to the nitty-gritty as well: I have been a freelance proofreader for Viking since 2011, assuring that all the glorious details of punctuation, grammar, usage and style are accurate. It’s an assignment I have always looked forward to, and I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every issue and feature, and I always learn something new.

My discovery of my own Nordic heritage began when I was six years old: when my parents packed up their two kids in the early 1970s and took us on a trip to Scandinavia. It was unforgettable, even for a six-year-old, and not your typical family vacation at the time. I find it interesting to reflect on now in light of Viking’s feature on traveling with children in the upcoming January 2014 issue. 

Back at home in St. Paul, Mn., Nordic traditions were part and parcel of growing up:  knitting and baking, hiking and biking. My parents both spoke a little Norwegian (and Danish) and pursued their family histories and genealogy with passion. Herring, lefse, fruit soup, and rice pudding were among the Nordic regulars on our holiday tables--always with a frozen bottle of akvavit at the center and a steady stream of stories.

I graduated from St. Olaf College with a double major in English and Norwegian, then earned a master’s degree in English and Creative Writing at Hollins College in Roanoke, Va. After working as a production editor at a Minneapolis publishing company, I worked as freelance editor from home while raising my three daughters. I have had the good fortune to travel to Norway with my daughters both in 2008 and in 2011. I still love to knit and bake, hike and bike, and I’ve added Nordic folk music to the family traditions, occasionally playing with the local Nordic Roots session and attending the annual Nisswa-stammen in Nisswa, Mn. My husband, also a descendant of Norwegian immigrants, serves up a mean genealogy and when he’s not researching family and local history, he’s in the woods with hand tools, currently building an authentic Norwegian timber-framed sauna.

Amy Boxrud leaves me with a beautifully crafted magazine and big editorial shoes to fill! Together with the team at Sons of Norway, she and art director Jill Adler and associate editor Anya Britzius have passionately pursued content, art and photos that both celebrate Nordic history and heritage and explore the exciting culture of modern Norway.

I raise my virtual glass of akvavit to Amy on her wonderful legacy at Viking. Skål Amy! I’m honored to take the helm and I look forward to working with the Viking editorial team and everyone at Sons of Norway to bring you more fresh, interesting and beautiful content about this wonderful Norwegian culture and heritage we all share.

Ann Pedersen is a freelance writer and editor of Viking magazine. She lives in St. Paul, Mn., with her husband and three daughters.

Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast: An Interview with Rev. Svennungsen

With the ticket deadline of November 20th fast approaching Sons of Norway hopes you'll be in attendance at the 2014 Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast! To give you a little taste of what you can expect at this premier event, we hope you will enjoy the second in a series of interviews with this year's NATB speakers. This time we interviewed Rev. Ann Svennungsen, who will be speaking to the audience on the topic of faith.

SofN: Please tell us about your connection to the Nordic American community. 

Svennungsen: My paternal grandparents were 100% Norwegian. In 1994, my father and I took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to visit the sites where our ancestors lived. In addition to the Svennungsens, our ancestors were Groethes, Monsons, and Frichs. The Frich family was well known in Bergen, where a museum still stands in their name. Norman Borlaug and Leland Sateren are also descendants of the Svennungsen immigrants (though spellings vary). I attended Concordia College in Moorhead, and served as pastor at St. Olaf and President of Texas Lutheran – all of which have significant Norwegian (and Swedish) ties.

SofN: Have you ever attended the Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast before? 

Svennungsen: No. But I’m delighted to attend this year! 

SofN: Can you give us a sneak peek into what the audience can expect from your presentation?   

Svennungsen: I am eager to speak about what I sense as a deep yearning for faith and about how the church is meeting - or struggling to meet - that yearning. I also love to tell stories – so there will be a few of those!

SofN: A person in your position is sure to have a very busy schedule. Can you tell us a little about what convinced you to speak at this year’s event? 

Svennungsen: I have high regard for Rick Torgerson and knew he’d spoken at last year’s event; so I sensed it was well worth my time. Also, I’m pretty proud of my Norwegian heritage (in a good sort of way, I hope!).

SofN: As this year’s speaker on the topic of faith, can you share with our readers what you believe is most important element of faith? 

Svennungsen: The good news of God’s unconditional love – revealed in the death and resurrection of Christ.

SofN: Do you have a favorite quote or passage about faith? 

Svennungsen: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

SofN: As a person with a long history in the church, what is the most important lesson our readers should know about faith? 

Svennungsen: If we are justified by faith in Christ as a gift from God, then our whole theology grows out from that central promise: We celebrate the priesthood of all believers and the vocation of all the baptized to love the neighbor; we rejoice in the gift of community and the promise that God meets us in finite, sacramental ways; we rest in the “theology of cross,” a theology that welcomes questions, appreciates struggle, and calls us see God most clearly in the cross; and we live out the radical welcome we ourselves have received from God. 

SofN: Can you share with our readers why you think it’s important to support local charities?  

Svennungsen: As one theologian put it, “when some have too much to eat and others have none, we ain’t got the Kingdom of God.” We give generously because it’s a powerful way to live out our call to love the neighbor as oneself, and especially the neighbor in need. When charities promote the fullness of life for all people – as well as the common good – we are called to share in cheerfulness and gratitude.