March
5, 2006
Take-A-Step
Why
Cards?
When I meet with the parish accountant (the wonderful person who tells
me the “bad news” or the “good news” about the
parish finances) she reminds me that we work with a budget. When I explained
that I’d be asking people to take a step in giving each week to
the church, she wondered how much that would increase the collection
revenue. Honestly, I wouldn’t know what to guess. By asking people
to prayerfully reflect on what they are giving now and to indicate what
step they are taking and then returning the cards, it will do to things
(a) Help each person to choose what step to taker (a little step? a
big step?) (b) Help us plan the budget for the rest of the year. If
you weren’t able to fill in a card this weekend, could you drop
yours in the collection next weekend? Thank you.
Census
Continues
Of the approximate 6,000 families we usually send mail to, we’ve
received completed Census booklets from over 2,000. So we’ve got
a ways to go.
Is your booklet in?
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Past Columns:
Feb 26:Coming Home
Feb19: Visiting Heros
Feb 12: Passing Pastor
Feb 4: Annual Appeal
Jan 22: Abandoned Nets
Jan 15: Everlasting Life
Jan 8: I'm not going to
jail..
Jan 1: Happy New Year
Columns
from 2005
Columns
from 2004
Columns from
2003
Columns from 2002
A
year or so ago I was assigned to both the 10:15 Mass and the 6pm Rock
Mass. I was speaking about stereotypes and said, “This even applies
to stereotypes about priests. For example...All priests ever talk about
is________.” The older 10:15 crowd all joined in and said “MONEY!”
The younger 6pm crowd said, “The gospel!” What a difference
a generation makes! Often people (even me) see a disconnect between money
and what might be thought of as “the spiritual things”. As
a pastor here, I have avoided talking about money -- except for an occasional
reminder to “give generously in the Christmas and Easter collection”,
or to pick up $50 here and there for asphalt and paint.
But giving money is VERY spiritual.
Each week when I give my money to the parish or when I give to other charities,
I realize how spiritual giving is. I feel great about being able to support
the work of this wonderful community. I feel good when I give to other
charities that help the poorest people around the world.
That “feeling” comes from knowing that I’m doing what
Jesus tells his disciples to do: feed the hungry, give shelter to the
homeless, give comfort to the afflicted, teach the Word of God, etc. Sure
I do “hands on” things like this in my life as a priest, but
I cannot do it all. So I give my money to make it possible for more of
this work to be done.
This week I’m trying to stop
in at many of the masses to invite you to take a step in what you give
to our parish. I’m telling people that we’ll be facing a $170,000
debt if we don’t raise regular income over a year.. That’s
practical -- and I do hope you’ll take a step in giving to get us
back into financial health. But that’s not the reason to give (it’s
the occasion). The reason to give is that I become a more spiritual person
when I give. I put my money where my faith, hope and love is. I don’t
just talk about being a Christian, I spend like I’m a Christian,
putting my money where I think Jesus wants me to put it. It’s like
I’m spending Jesus’ money -- and as I think about, really
it IS Jesus’ money. Thank you for considering taking a step to spend
some of your Jesus’ money too..
PS on the web...If you haven't seen our web page for automated giving, click here for more info.