What a year this has been! Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve faced illness and anxiety and even death. We have endured job loss and economic hardship. And we have, most tragically, had to do all of this while being physically separated from one another, and for many, from our parish community. I have missed you more than I can say.
As the world continues to face the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, we, as a parish, find ourselves now looking to the future, planning what will happen next. There is much that is unknown, and our community will have to chart a path forward through faith, hope & healing.
The reality, though, is that the emptiness of our church in recent months has also meant a considerable reduction in our collection baskets. Many of you have given generously via electronic giving or by sending money directly to the parish, and I am very grateful. Like most Catholic parishes, we rely greatly on the offertory collection to fulfill the Church’s mission of spreading the Gospel and caring for those in need. We also have the reality, like many organizations, of paying bills and salaries, maintaining infrastructure, providing the streaming of our Masses and running essential programs. Without your generosity, it would be impossible for us to fulfill our mission, which is needed now more than ever.
While I realize this is a time of great economic hardship, I humbly ask you to prayerfully consider the following:
- A one-time gift to help recover lost offertory from the shutdown.
- A renewal of your regular offertory contribution.
- An increase in the amount of your offertory contribution.
Please know that any gift, no matter the amount, is most appreciated and will enable us to continue our mission of loving God and serving our neighbor.
If you are unable to give financially, know that I am grateful for your gift of presence in our community. Without each and every one of you, our parish would have no reason to exist.
If, for whatever reason, you have been separated from the Church for a time, know that our parish doors are always wide open to you, awaiting your return. The Lord, in his overwhelming mercy and love, never tires of welcoming us home to Him. I thank the many parishioners who have returned to Mass over the last months and if you are still uncomfortable to attend in person, we are ready when you are.
Please know that you and your families remain in my daily prayers, and I humbly ask that I remain in yours.
Faith
Scripture tells us that “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.” (Ps 46:2). As we face the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, we stand strong in faith knowing that Christ is with us. And yet there are so many who do not know the Good News of Jesus Christ! There is no better time to share the Gospel message with the world. With your help, our parish can continue to bring the faith we love to others.
Hope
The prophet Isaiah counsels, “They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (40:31). Our community has been through hardship, but we are a people of hope! By assisting those in need through our many outreach programs, we extend that hope to others. But the parish can’t do it alone. With your help, we can continue to bring the hope we need to others.
Healing
Jesus Christ is the prince of peace — the one who can calm the stormy seas. As his hands and feet, we are called to actively be Christ to one another as we embark upon a new ministry of healing within our communities. With your help, we can continue to bring the healing we crave to others.
With all of this in mind, I invite you to join our parish community by responding to our Faith, Hope & Healing Program. I ask that you please review the brochure and prayerfully consider how you and your family can help St. Ann by financially supporting our ministries, furthering our mission, and reinforcing our future.
Thank you for your generosity, prayers, and commitment to St. Ann!
Your electronic commitment card can be completed with this link: https://www.osvhub.com/st-ann-church-32/forms/commitment-card
In Christ,
Fr. Thomas McCarthy
Pastor