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	Annual Appeal Update and Plea By Archbishop John Vlazny Catholic Sentinel June 7, 2008 http://www.sentinel.org/node/9112 Back in February I asked the Catholic people of this archdiocese once again to support our Archbishop's Catholic Appeal for ministries and programs here in western Oregon. The theme for this year's appeal was "Strike the Rock and the Water will Flow." The waters of generosity, compassion and charity have been flowing across the archdiocese the past few months. I am very grateful to all of you who have already made a contribution but I humbly acknowledge that we need to keep "striking that rock," because the flow has not been as strong as we hoped. After the twelfth week of this year's appeal, pledged donations were $256,169.00 short of last year's pledges at the same time. Moreover, there were also 1,415 fewer donors and the average gift was slightly less than what was pledged in 2007. This downturn in support is a bit discouraging, but there still is plenty of time to turn it all around. The appeal was presented in most of our parishes back on the third Sunday of February. I had asked that a follow-up appeal be made on the next Sunday since it often happens that a number of parishioners are away on any given Sunday. I learned that a number of the parishes held back on seeking in-pew donations both Sundays. I also realize that these are tougher times for many of our people economically and they simply can't do what they did last year. Undoubtedly there still remains some lingering discouragement among a number of our people as a result of the child sexual abuse scandal and the bankruptcy we experienced. But, in spite of the obstacles, it's not yet time to surrender. I thought it advisable to inform you about this situation and ask folks who have not yet made a contribution to do so in the coming weeks. We raised the goal for the appeal five percent this year as we have done in previous years. We were also hoping to be able to restore some of the services that were curtailed as a result of the bankruptcy. Much of this does depend upon the success of the appeal. I encouraged regular donors to join me in increasing their pledge dollars and I was also hopeful that more folks would be getting on board to help increase participation. Last year, 35 percent of the Catholic households provided us with more than $4 million. My hope was that we would approach 40 percent this time and also exceed the total of $4 million, even though the goal was set at $3.465 million. Back in February I reminded all of you that your gift to the annual appeal is a faith-based donation. The only reason you or I contribute is because we believe that by helping others we enhance our own personal relationship with God. As donors, we are indeed the ones who benefit most of all. Why? Because sharing and caring keep faith alive just like breathing and eating keep us alive. Make no mistake about it. A donation to this appeal as to any other work of charity requires a sacrifice. Back in 2001 Pope John Paul II said, "As faithful disciples and imitators of Christ, you are urged to go against the current, choosing the evangelical option of serving the brethren… above all, because you are impelled by the unceasing power of divine charity." It is the love of Christ that moves us to be caring and charitable. Christian stewardship of our own human resources is no mere philanthropic humanitarian gesture. It is truly a very visible and real expression of our Catholic faith. The Archdiocese of Portland is a part of the church universal. Consequently, we do have some responsibility to make sure that the good news of Jesus Christ reaches sisters and brothers in the distant corners of this great world. But each parish is also a part of this archdiocese and together we bear responsibility for many of the works and services that require our collective effort and support. Your pastors and I bring this appeal to your attention as a part of our pastoral responsibility to encourage and support your participation in our church's evangelizing mission. Without good stewardship, evangelization falls flat. Good and faithful stewardship, the wise sharing of our time, treasure and talent, makes our mission prosper. Some of the growing needs of this local church which are so dependent upon the annual appeal are seminary education, support of our retired priests and Catholic schools. Here at the Pastoral Center the outreach to people with disabilities, deaf ministry, support of ethnic vicariates, youth ministry, the training of deacons and justice and peace advocacy all rely heavily on your support of the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal. Some of you may never even have seen a pledge form this year. You can make a contribution even without a pledge form, but I am quite sure that those of you who are computer savvy can easily make your pledges online or find a form which you can download and send in with your contribution. We are blessed with an excellent Resource Development department. Mr. Doug Tollefson, the director, has made himself available in parishes across the archdiocese to help explain the appeal and to encourage broader participation. I remain grateful to him for his generous service and his tireless efforts as the "breadwinner" of our Catholic family here in Western Oregon. Sometimes folks wonder whether or not we clergy contribute to the appeal. I can assure you that many of us do and each year since my arrival I have increased my offering. After all, my donation ten years ago would not go as far today as it did back then. That's why I've been asking you to try to increase your donations as well. But, even if you must decrease your donation, an offering of any kind is much better than none. It bonds you with the rest of us in doing our best to make the water's of God's grace flow here more strongly than ever in the Archdiocese of Portland. Thanks once again to all those who have contributed to this year's appeal. Sometimes when things are going well we tend to take them for granted. That's probably what happened in our efforts to promote this year's appeal. For that reason, I come back again to encourage your support and to acknowledge, with some reluctance, that the upward trend in recent years, in spite of all our hardships at that time, has reversed itself. Let's restore that upward trend right here and now. God bless your generous and caring hearts.
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