5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Next weekend is the beginning of our Annual Catholic Appeal campaign for 2023 and we will have the opportunity to complete pledge cards. The theme for this year’s campaign is “A Future of Hope and Healing” If they have not already, Parishioners should soon receive a letter, pamphlet, and pledge card from Archbishop John Wester regarding the importance of the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA).  Unlike the tithing renewal that we do each November in which we commit ourselves to a weekly tithe to the support of our local parish, the Annual Catholic Appeal is our opportunity to consider the needs not just of our own parish, but of Catholics across the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Who will provide for the education of new priests for their parishes? Who will provide for the priests that visit them in the hospital? Who will provide for the training of deacons and lay ministers within our Archdiocese? Who will provide for prison ministry, Youth and Young Adult ministry, Respect Life ministry, and ministry to our Catholic university students at the Newman Centers of the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands University, Eastern New Mexico University, and New Mexico Tech? The pamphlet that you received in the mail or picked up in the church lists the many ministries of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe that are funded by the Annual Catholic Appeal. Each of us are being asked to step up and make a pledge to the Annual Catholic Appeal that provides funding for all of these critical ministries and many more.    

The Annual Catholic Appeal Foundation represents nearly one third of all operating funds available to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Without the ACA, the vital work of the Church would not be possible. Our assigned goal for this year is $38,000 which is $1,545 less than last year. In meeting our goal, we are meeting our obligation to support the ministries of the Archdiocese. But in surpassing our goal, we are also helping ourselves since all of the paid pledges in excess of our assigned goal are rebated directly back to our parish! In recent years, our parish has been successful in exceeding our ACA goal, but it all depends on you. Every pledge is important, regardless of the amount, and every pledge must be paid in order for us to meet our goal.