Pastor's Pen - May 31, 2015

Each of our parishioners should have received or soon will receive an appeal letter from Archbishop Listecki asking for inancial 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 five separate ones, please be generous.) Make all checks payable to: “Church in the United States,” NOT to the 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 6/7.

• 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 underfunded. This collection helps support care for senior religious men and women in the U.S.A. More than 35,000 religious men and women are over 70 years of age. Most of these religious receive $4,000 annually in Social Security benefits, compared to the average for the general population of $12,000. The average annual cost for skilled nursing care for a religious is $50,000. 

• Catholic Campaign for Human Development has existed for 45 years working to end the cycle of poverty and injustice in the United States. It funds projects and programs that teach self
suficiency and solidarity, and helps people living in poverty to create solutions that end poverty. Over 37
million Americans (one out of every eight 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 in order to tell the world about faith, worship and witness. The campaign also funds the weekly radio Mass from our Cathedral (Sundays at 8:00 a.m. on 920 AM &
Relevant Radio 100.1 FM) and the free missalette service and newsletter to over 3,000 homebound Catholics throughout the Archdiocese.

• The Black and Indian Missions assists local and national Black and Native American communities with evangelization programs and the development of community leaders and religious vocations. 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 U.S.A. Annually, 3,000 students (1/2 of those enrolled) are given financial aid.

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