When I think about the annual "Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal" which starts next weekend, I ponder the encouragement of St. Paul to some of the early Christian communities he founded to help the ones who were in need (see 1 Cor. 16:1-4). He spoke of "setting aside a sum of money in keeping with your income (verse 2)" and left it up to each person to decide how much to set aside and therefore how much to give. The Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal is necessary in our diocese and in most, if not all dioceses because most of the ministries and activities that benefit from our financial gifts have no regular source of income that can keep their ministry going and growing (as the need arises) year-round. These ministries support people of all ages and situations of life and contribute to the vitality and growth of Catholicism and evangelization that are key to our being faithful to our baptismal commitment.
While there have been many parishioners of Sacred Heart who have faithfully (and some very generously) given to the Arkansas Sharing Appeal each year, the fact is the humber of households giving to this appeal has gone down especially in the last few years. While some of this has no doubt happened in part because of parishioners who have died or moved, we have reason to rejoice that our parish donors have helped us far exceed our goals in some of the most recent years (around $83,000), in 2018. In 2019, however, we had a significant number of parish families who gave in 2018 but NOT this past year, which in part, resulted in $69,000 being given in 2019. With our goal for 2020 being $83,900, it is clear that we face a real challenge to meet and (hopefully) exceed our goal for this year.
I ask EVERY parish family (like Paul did with the Corinthian community family) to give something to this important effort to fund ministries throughout Arkansas, some of which directly or indirectly benefit our faith community of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish and the needy in our area. I plan to increase my gift to CASA this year and I want to encourage our donors of the past to do so, if you can, as well.
Remember, unlike other collections that are taken up during the year, this appeal gives us the opportunity, if we wish, to make a pledge and attempt to pay it off on a monthly basis, for a few months or for the rest of this year. Like in so many instances in the past, we can be a role model of compassion, generosity and faithfulness to all the parishes in Arkansas who are participating in this special appeal.
While there have been many parishioners of Sacred Heart who have faithfully (and some very generously) given to the Arkansas Sharing Appeal each year, the fact is the humber of households giving to this appeal has gone down especially in the last few years. While some of this has no doubt happened in part because of parishioners who have died or moved, we have reason to rejoice that our parish donors have helped us far exceed our goals in some of the most recent years (around $83,000), in 2018. In 2019, however, we had a significant number of parish families who gave in 2018 but NOT this past year, which in part, resulted in $69,000 being given in 2019. With our goal for 2020 being $83,900, it is clear that we face a real challenge to meet and (hopefully) exceed our goal for this year.
I ask EVERY parish family (like Paul did with the Corinthian community family) to give something to this important effort to fund ministries throughout Arkansas, some of which directly or indirectly benefit our faith community of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish and the needy in our area. I plan to increase my gift to CASA this year and I want to encourage our donors of the past to do so, if you can, as well.
Remember, unlike other collections that are taken up during the year, this appeal gives us the opportunity, if we wish, to make a pledge and attempt to pay it off on a monthly basis, for a few months or for the rest of this year. Like in so many instances in the past, we can be a role model of compassion, generosity and faithfulness to all the parishes in Arkansas who are participating in this special appeal.