What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:9,10

My Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

What God has prepared for those who love Him! The mystery of God is His plan for the salvation of His people, for you and me! This mystery is revealed to us through Jesus Christ and His journey to the Cross. Jesus’ power is the tenderness of His very heart which gives life to us. God does not act like the powerful of the earth. He humbles Himself to welcome each one of us in our human frailty, our own uncertainty. God is close to us like a loving father, a caring mother, a shepherd who loves his sheep, a person merciful to the stranger. God seeks us always to be in a relationship with Him . . . a relationship of love because God is love.

I ask you to consider this relationship; this beautiful gift bestowed upon us in Baptism, a seed placed upon our soul, that we might love each other as God loves us. That love, blossoming forth, yields the ministries supported by you, who choose to participate, through Our Catholic Appeal.

The financial support you offer forms our seminarians who become priests and pastors of your parishes; it celebrates the religious sisters whose ministries quench the thirst within us; it journeys with men who are ordained deacons to serve our parish communities and those who are ‘outside the walls’ to bring them the gift of God’s love. Each gift you give provides for the training of our teachers and catechists so they are prepared to assist you with the spiritual growth of your children.

The smallest amount is your offering to God to evangelize His people and help us to trust in God that we might live. The homeless, the hungry, the forsaken are blessed by our offering to God.

My sisters and brothers in Christ, we are called to be the source of peace, hope and love within all of human society, renewing our world in Christ and collaborating with Christ to transform His people into the kingdom of God. This kingdom was revealed as present in the person and actions of Jesus Christ. This kingdom is ours to also fulfill with God through the ministries supported by Our Catholic Appeal which invite Him into our daily living. Please support Our Catholic Appeal. May we come to know what God has prepared for us who love Him!

The Lord be with you and may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, descent upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.