September 28, 2008

Dear friends in life and in ministry . . .

Another active week folded into an even busier weekend. Today, in addition to our 9 a.m. Mass, we began Sunday Morning Adult education classes which potentially will include a few adults beginning the RCIA process. At 12:30 p.m. we rehearsed with 22 Confirmation candidates from St. Mary's and St. Gabriel's Hammondsport for their reception of the sacrament on Wednesday evening. Bishop Clark will preside. The afternoon ended with a meeting with a parishioner and a home visit to an ailing parishioner friend.

I slumped in my easy chair in time for the second quarter of the 4 p.m. game between the Bills and the Rams. Go Buffalo - now 4 wins 0 losses. God is good . . . and so are the Bills.

Today's column introduces the Stewardship of Treasure - along with the Diocese's Catholic Ministry Appeal which commences this week.

TRAVEL WITH US IN 2009
Pat and I invite you to join us on a "Lands of the Bible Cruise" that we've scheduled for November 11, 2009. Follow the link below to download our itinerary. Then, if you are interested, drop me an email and I'll send you a brochures and registration form. (http://www.deaconray.com/travel.htm)

This Week's Column: September 28, 2008
Deacons Are "Sent to Serve" - "Stewardship and the Catholic Ministry Appeal"

As a basic principle of our Catholic faith, we acknowledge God as the source of all we have and all we are. Stewardship challenges each of us to recognize our gifts of time, talent and treasure, to use them wisely and to share them generously.

During 2007 we focused much of our attention on the Stewardship of Time and ministries spoke of how they gave back to God by using their time and talents in service to others. Throughout Lent, we used a Little Burgundy Book written by the late Saginaw Bishop Kenneth Unterer to discover the scriptural underpinnings of Stewardship and how it is an essential activity of every true disciple of Christ.

Now, we extend our focus to the third principal of stewardship - the stewardship of our financial resources - our “treasure.” During Advent 2008, we will hear the witness of several St. Mary’s parishioners who will speak to us of the importance of the financial stewardship of our parish ministries. But before we do this, we’ll focus (as we do each October on the financial stewardship of our diocesan support ministries.

The Catholic Ministries Appeal is a good example of the stewardship of treasure. This annual diocesan wide appeal challenges us to look beyond our own needs and offer a share of our personal blessings with our brothers and sisters. Through the CMA, we can show our thanks and joy for the gifts we have received and show our love for God and one another. Simply, we give as an act of thanksgiving and worship. And by doing so, we strengthen our local church and provide assistance to those who need it most.

A few days ago, Bishop Matthew Clark wrote to every registered St. Mary’s parishioner, asking your financial support for the CMA. In many cases, the Bishop asked you to consider giving a specific amount - likely based on your past giving. Others, including those who have not previously supported the CMA, may wonder how much is an appropriate starter gift? Obviously, the amount you give will be determined by your income. We are aware that many of our parishioners are on a fixed income and several find themselves in need of public assistance to survive.

Nevertheless, those who are able, are asked to consider the traditional tithe of returning 10% of their income to charitable causes. One scenario might be to donate 5% to your parish, 1% to the CMA with the remaining 4% contributed to community charitable organizations such as the United Way, the Red Cross, CROP or Catholic Charities. People who tithe in this way, almost universally report that the blessings they receive greatly outweigh the sacrifices made.

As my song says:

FR. JIM TO ALSO SERVE AT BATH VA

Since Fr. John Wydeven’s departure in May, the over 400 residents of the Catholic chaplain. Fr. Jim and I have responded to frequent calls for vets needing the Sacrament of the Sick and Viaticum - the Church’s “last rites”. Last week, Fr. Jim received a letter from Bishop Clark granting him permission to serve the Bath VA on an “as needed basis.” This permission was granted in addition to Father Jim’s “primary responsibility of providing spiritual leadership and care to the Bath and Hammondsport parishioners.”

Fr. Jim currently spends a portion of his day off serving veterans at the Canadaigua VA. Now, as the search for a full-time Catholic chaplain continues, Fr. Jim will be available a few hours each week to provide sacramental care to residents and patients at the local VA facility. We join Bishop Clark in assuring Fr. Jim our prayers as he undertakes these new duties.

Have a good week. Serve one another well.

Deacon Ray

Click image for printable document... (Adobe PDF file, plugin needed)   (Click Here For Sent To Serve Archives)

Bulletin: September 28th, 2008