Letter from the Pastor
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October 15, 2023The Church, by her very nature is a missionary. Our Lord sent His disciples to go to the ends of the earth and to proclaim the Gospel. At the end of Mass, the celebrant of the Mass dismisses us: GO: the Mass is ended. The Church continues the mission of the Son to proclaim the salvation Christ offers those who believe in Him. We are faithful to the nature of the Church to the degree that we love and sincerely promote her missionary activity.Next Sunday, October 22 is World Mission Sunday. The collection helps the pope in his missions throughout the world. Pope Francis reflected on the 2023 theme “Hearts on fire, feet on the move," based on the story of the disciples who encounter Jesus on their way to Emmaus. He invites all of us to "set out once more, illumined by our encounter with the risen Lord and prompted by his Spirit. Let us set out again with burning hearts, with our eyes open and our feet in motion. Let us set out to make other hearts burn with the word of God, to open the eyes of others to Jesus in the Eucharist, and to invite everyone to walk together on the path of peace and salvation that God, in Christ, has bestowed upon all humanity."
Together, through our prayers and financial support, we bring the Lord’s mercy and concrete help to the most vulnerable communities in the Pope’s missions. World Mission Sunday helps support the Church among the poor and marginalized in more than 1,111 mission dioceses. 26 million children in elementary school are taught, 38,140 seminarians are being educated and formed, 8750 orphanages and elderly care buildings, 11,480 medical clinics operate.
Next week, we will have a special second collection for World Mission Sunday.
Increased Offertory Program
As announced last week at the Mass, our parish has been selected by the Archdiocese to take part in the Increased Offertory Program. We have two specific requests: first, for those who do not currently contribute, kindly begin doing so; second, we ask all parishioners to try and prayerfully increase the amount given in the offertory collection each week. You are not asked to contribute more than you can afford.
Talking about finances is never pleasant. Each of you understands the difficult decisions that must be made in budgeting for your home. Your faith home is the same. In making this request for increased giving, we hope to raise your awareness of the issue of regular parish giving while also bringing your attention to the parish’s financial burden caused by maintaining parish programs and our buildings.
May I also suggest the idea of electronic giving? There are benefits to signing up. It syncs up your offertory with household banking and bill paying already done online.
It helps our parish with consistent, planned support of the Church, it saves the parish money in the reduction of envelopes and it allows you to budget for your entire parish giving – offertory, second collections, and special parish events – at one time.
Signing up is easy, safe and secure. If interested, please call Helen at the Parish Center at 845.735-4746, extension 105.
I am very appreciative of your support and encouragement not only to me but to your neighbors in Christ who live in our community. I can assure you that, with His help, I will continue to do my best to serve you gratefully and effectively.God will Bless Your Goodness!
