Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

I pray with gratitude for you, knowing of your faithfulness. We have just celebrated the seasons of Advent and Christmas and soon, we begin the season of Lent. After the Advent and Christmas seasons, we are even more prepared for this journey; we are joyful and diligent about our holy living imbued by the breath of God. Now as we near the end of the ‘in-between’ space of our liturgical seasons and our daily living, we do not pause on God. This is not a ‘time out;’ we are always in motion to continue the path of God, the way of the Lord, our pilgrimage to Heaven!

Our psalmist proclaims that those who seek God with all their heart are blessed. We are blessed because we are created by God for God – we are gifted to serve God in all that we do. It is not a plural ‘hearts,’ but one heart­it is the heart that makes us one as His children. It is the heart given to us through the Eucharist that we bring Jesus to each person. Within the depth of our soul, we seek to follow God with all our heart.

Our Catholic Appeal offers a visible occasion to present the heart of God to His people. The ministries supported by Our Catholic Appeal keep us steady on our pebbled path, that we might ignore the distractions blinding us to God. These ministries infuse us with the fire of the Holy Spirit to be God’s light where His light is unknown or hidden from view. Our leaders, both employed and volunteer, are trained to form all God’s people to receive the Sacraments. They guide our young men and women to seek the immense wisdom of the Lord as they discern a vocation to marriage, the priesthood, permanent diaconate, or religious life so that all they encounter will come to know, love, and serve God.

Care is given to create sacred space through the vigilance of safe environment ministries. Sustenance for those who are hungry, shelter for those without homes, consolation to those who yearn for hope are offered by those who serve in these ministries. Our lay educators and catechists, and clergy and religious receive spiritual refreshment that the wonder of God’s law is known throughout the earth.

Beloved, God names you Blessed and so you are. Through your generous offering, the ministries supported by Our Catholic Appeal bless the earth and all within it with His matchless love.