This is the time of year when Catholics throughout the Diocese of Madison are hearing and reading about the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA).
Members of parishes have received a letter and pledge form from Bishop Robert C. Morlino. An insert about the appeal was distributed in parishes and also included in the Catholic Herald. This past weekend, we watched a video message from the Diocese of Madison in our parishes.
This year’s theme
I love the theme of this year’s appeal, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
As Fr. Scott Jablonski, pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish in Dane and Lodi, says on the video, “Every single day I have to get up and I have to make the same decision that every single other person who says that they are Christian has to make. Today will I serve Jesus? Will I make Him the center of my life? Will I give Him my ultimate allegiance again?”
Father Jablonski points out that we serve the Lord as individuals and also by collaborating with others to bring our gifts and our talents together to help others.
Supporting the ACA
We can bring those gifts and talents together by supporting the ACA. The ACA funds the ministries and services benefitting every Catholic in the Diocese of Madison in the 11 counties of our diocese and beyond.
Here are just some of the ways we can serve the Lord:
• Through Catholic Charities. This agency has more than 35 programs serving people of all ages. One of these is the new homeless day resource center opening this year in Madison.
• Through the Catholic Multicultural Center. The ACA gives some support to the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) in Madison, operated by Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish. The CMC provides food, computer training, language classes, help for job-seekers, and many other services.
• Through education. Our diocesan Offices of Catholic Schools and Evangelization and Catechesis provide resources to our schools and parish religious education, youth ministry, and marriage preparation programs.
• Through worship. Our Catholic faith is enriched through worship. Our diocesan Office of Worship helps train people involved in liturgical ministry in our parishes.
I encourage all Catholics to give generously to the ACA. Our financial gifts do make a difference. Let’s join in saying, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!”
If you missed it, you can watch the Annual Catholic Appeal video at https://youtu.be/NugESN-sWNI You can donate by mail, through your parish, or go to http://bit.ly/2dGmLK7