Lent is a time for prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. Catholics look at Lent as a time of beauty, a time when Jesus gave His life to save us. What a beautiful gift he gave.
Because the beauty of Lent is with us for 40 days, the theme for the 2013 Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) is “Beauty: Ever Ancient, Ever New.” As in past years, the ACA is conducted during the Lenten season. We strive to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed and prayerful decision on what you can do to help support this important work. In this issue of the Catholic Herald, a tabloid of information on the ACA is available. The ACA has added one very important element this year, a video.
In the past, an audio message from Bishop Robert C. Morlino has been played in the parishes on Commitment Weekend. To actively demonstrate the message of where your donations are put to use within the diocese, a video was created. This video will be shown in place of the audio on Commitment Weekend (March 2 to 3, 2013) in all parishes throughout our diocese.
The message the video portrays is one of beauty within our 11-county diocese: beauty in the people; beauty in the landscape; beauty in the Mass; beauty in our parishes. Your donation reaches out and assists so many people in so many ways. It helps by educating the future parish priests, assists those who need some help through the Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry, provides assistance to those needing services from the Catholic Multicultural Center, catechizes through our schools, lectures, workshops and educational classes, and so much more.
The 2013 Annual Catholic Appeal is maintaining its goal of $3 million for another year. The mail solicitation to parishioners was sent at the end of January, with the “in-pew” portion being conducted this weekend March 2 and 3, with the video being shown, and a follow-up on March 9 and 10.
As you watch the video this weekend, please consider the blessings you have in your life and remember those less fortunate. Immediately following the video, your pastor will lead you through the pledging process of the Annual Catholic Appeal. You have the option of pledging your gift to be paid over five months. Our hope is this will allow you to make a gift that will go even further to benefit all those that are part of the Annual Catholic Appeal. Please consider what you can do.
God bless you and your family during this beautiful time of Lent.
Jill Driscoll is the associate director of the Diocese of Madison Office of Stewardship and Development.