Pastor's Pen - June 5, 2016

Each of our parishioners should have received or soon will receive an appeal letter from Archbishop Listecki asking financial support for five Catholic causes that are part of the Catholic Church’s ministry in the United States. Please read through and examine the brochure accompanying the Archbishop’s letter and learn about these five causes. The collection offers a wonderful opportunity to support hands-on efforts to help people in need. (Because this one collection supplants 5 separate ones, please be generous.)

Make all checks payable to: “Church in the United States,” NOT to St. Paul Parish. You may forward your gift directly by mail to the Archdiocesan lock-box in the envelope sent to you or bring your combined collection envelope to one of the Masses on the weekend of June 11/12.

---- The Retirement Fund for Religious was initiated in 1988 by the American Bishops when it became obvious that retirement plans for religious orders were significantly under funded. This collection helps support senior religious-order men and women in the U.S.A. More than 33,000 religious men and women are over 70 years of age. Most of these religious receive only $6,000 annually in Social Security benefits, compared to the average for the general population of $16,000. The average annual cost for care for a religious is over $40,000.

---- Catholic Campaign for Human Development has existed for 46 years working to end the cycle of poverty and injustice in the United States. It funds projects and programs that teach self-sufficiency, changing the structures of poverty. Over 37 million Americans (1 out of every 8 Americans) live in poverty. Low-income groups in SE Wisconsin receive a portion of the proceeds.

---- The Catholic Communications Campaign supports both national and local media and communication projects/ programs and helps efforts in shaping communications industry standards and public policy, along with communicating the Gospel around the world. The campaign locally funds the weekly radio Mass from our Cathedral (Sundays at 8:00 a.m. on 920 AM & Relevant Radio 100.1 FM) and radio reflections from our Archbishop.

---- The Black and Indian Missions Appeal assists Archdiocesan and national Black and Native American communities with evangelization programs and the development of community leaders teachers. It also supports the work of missionaries in the poorest areas of the United States.

---- The Catholic University of America is the only national university of the Catholic Church in the USA. Annually 4,000 students (1/2 of those enrolled) are given financial aid. One hundred-ninety U.S. Dioceses send their seminarians to CUA.

Thank you for making a difference and for being generous toward these vital apostolates within the United States.

Fr. Ralph