Posted on February 25, 2018 View all news
Laudetur Jesus Christus! Gelobt sei Jesus Christus!
Sia lodato Gesù Cristo! Praised be Jesus Christ!
I wanted to give a quick update on the status of the Catholic Ministries Appeal. As of February 15, Old St. Mary’s has pledged only $665 out of a $17,154 goal with less than 1% of the parish participating. Sacred Heart has fared a little better and has pledged $2,085 out of a $7,962 goal with about 3% of the parish participating. Old St. Mary’s certainly has a lot to make up, but both parishes can do better. I was actually disappointed when I saw the numbers.
One of the precepts of the Church is the obligation of the faithful to provide for the material needs of the Church, according to one’s ability. This includes the Sunday collection, special collections, and the causes of the Archbishop. Turning on the lights and heat, purchasing the hosts and Altar wine, mending and providing vestments all cost the parish money. Educating our future priests is expensive for both of the Oratory, who is responsible for our own seminarians, and for the Archdiocese to run Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of West. Ensuring that we have priests like Fr. Adrian in our hospitals to provide Last Rites, and in our jails to fulfill the command of Christ to visit the imprisoned, cost the Church money. Without the faithful supporting the Church from their means, most of this would disappear. Our beautiful parishes would close, we couldn’t afford to ordain new priests, and the Sacraments would become more scarce.
The Archbishop has been very generous with both parishes. You are guaranteed to have priests for generations to come. There will be more priests around both parishes in the years to come then some of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese. Neither parish is in danger of closing, both are financially stable, and both preach the faith as given to us by the Christ and have the Sacraments faithfully offered. This is only possible because of the Archbishop’s generosity.
So I am asking you again, please support the Archbishop’s fund drive. This drive goes to support the seminary and vocations, St. Rita’s School for the Deaf, Catholic Social Services, retired priests, and our priests in hospital and jail ministry. These funds do not go toward anything you may find questionable, but rather are part of the Church’s mission as commanded us by Christ Himself. The care of the Sacraments, the proclamation of the Gospel, and charity for those less fortunate than ourselves. Remember that the code for Old St. Mary’s is 1841 and the code for Sacred Heart is 721. Online donations can be made through the appeal’s webpage (www.catholicappeal.info).
Thank you again for your support!
