4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Cycle C
January
31, 2016 All Masses
Saint Margaret Parish, Bel Air
Connectedness
One of
the wonderful benefits of being a Catholic is connectedness.
This
connectedness happens on many levels.
And one of these is our connectedness as an Archdiocese Church.
Today,
we will hear about an opportunity of expressing this connectedness and making
it a very real thing. We and Catholics
throughout the Archdiocese will hear a homily from Archbishop Lori.
The
Archbishop will be reflecting on the Archbishop’s
Annual Appeal that we do every year at this time. So, without my saying anything else, let’s
listen to Archbishop Lori.
Archbishop Lori
Our Commitment to the
Archbishop’s Annual Appeal
So, we have
listened to Archbishop Lori, and now I would like to guide us through an
opportunity to make a commitment to this Appeal.
First, on behalf
of the Archbishop, I want to thank those of you who given to this Appeal in past years and those who have
already made a commitment this year. Our
gifts have been used well.
They support a
variety of programs, services and ministries that any individual parish, like
Saint Margaret’s, cannot do alone. They
make a valuable contribution to the mission of our Church.
Each of us is
called to do what we can in giving to this Appeal. The parish Development Committee and I
recommend as a guide that we give an amount that is equal to 10% of what we
give annually to the parish offertory collection.
So, easy math, if
we give $1,000 a year to the offertory, the recommendation is a gift of $100 to
the Appeal. Some of us will not be able to do this and I
understand that.
Some of us will be
able to do the 10% or even more. And
that is great.
If we all do what
we can, we here at Saint Margaret’s will make our goal and contribute to doing
some very important things for the Church beyond our parish. By the way, our parish goal is $235,000.
The Cards
Now, at the end of
the rows of seats, there are commitments cards and pencils. I would ask that you please pass these down
so that one member of each household has a card and pencil.
I would ask you to
make your decision on a commitment today by completing this form now. I will highlight just a couple things.
First, please take
a card even if you have already given or know that you cannot give. After filling in your name and other other
information requested on the left side, please check off the box at the bottom left
that is appropriate:
§ My gift information is enclosed
§ I have already given to the 2016 Appeal
§ I do not wish to make a gift at this time.
By the way, please
make sure that you complete the line that says Parish name and fill in Saint
Margaret Parish. We want to get credit
for what you give!
If you check off
that you have already given or cannot give, that’s all you need to do with the
form. Just tear it off and place it in
the envelope.
If you check off
that your gift information is enclosed, then go to the right hand side. Notice the recommended giving amounts at the
top.
Also notice the line
marked Other if none of the amounts printed is right for you. Then, in the bottom right box, write the
total amount pledged, and then the amount enclosed.
And by the way,
you do not have to enclose any amount today.
But if there is an amount enclosed, subtract that from the total pledged
and fill in the line marked Pledge Balance.
You can then check
off the correct box underneath that: Full Payment Enclosed or 8 Monthly
Installments. Finally, notice that you
can contribute by Cash, Check, or Credit Card and again, check the appropriate
box and complete the needed information.
When you are
finished, please tear off the card, place it in the envelope, and then drop
this in the collection basket today. Again,
on behalf of Archbishop Lori, I thank you for your kind attention to this and
for your faith and your support of the work of our Church.
