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... Archdiocesan Development Fund Appeal (ADF) January 25, 2009 A friend of mine, a man of great talent, cares very little about saving money. His philosophy is that money is meant to be used, i.e., spent. He is true to this philosophy as he is not only generous but he also spends freely (but not wildly). One day he told me he had a terrible nightmare. He dreamt that he died and went before Saint Peter. He was immediately informed by Saint Peter that he still had $118.75 in his checking account when he died. He was so distraught that he hadn’t spent all his money that he asked to go back to earth. He woke up startled then and wondered — was it a nightmare or was it a lesson? During the past six months, many of us wondered at first if the financial crisis was merely a nightmare or was it a lesson to be learned. Living in modern America in the 21st century, we may have various economic philosophies and practices. But all of us do know that it takes money to live. The food we eat, the utilities we use, the clothes we wear all cost someone something. Since this is true for every person, it is likewise true for institutions, communities and churches. You, as a member of a particular parish, support your parish by contributing to the weekly collections at Sunday Mass. For your generosity to your parish, I am grateful. As a member of a Catholic parish, you are also a member of our Archdiocese. All parishes located in a particular defined geographical area form a united community called the diocese or archdiocese. Therefore, all 115 Catholic churches located in central and western Oklahoma and the Panhandle are in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The chief priest or shepherd of this Church is the archbishop. Through the archbishop’s leadership and the collaboration of priests and people of the parishes, unity and orthodoxy are maintained and direction is given for our pilgrimage of life. Through the proclamation of the Gospel and the celebration of the sacraments, which the archbishop oversees, our Catholic faith grows and we are guided on the path to eternal salvation. Hopefully we will walk that path safely together to Heaven. Every member of a Catholic parish, along with their priests, relies directly on the Archdiocese, not only for the deeply spiritual realities of the Church but also for many practical needs. The services and programs of the Archdiocese compliment and complete the life of the parishes. These ministries of services are described in the brochure titled Burning Love, which is being distributed in your parish. These services and programs provided by the Archdiocese are made possible by an annual appeal which I, as your archbishop, make each February. This appeal is called the Archdiocesan Development Fund Appeal or, more simply referred to as the A.D.F. The 2009 A.D.F. appeal will be conducted in all parishes on Sunday, Feb. 8. Today I wish to thank all of you who have generously responded to my previous appeals. However, I do realize that these are difficult times. Finances are problematic for everyone. Therefore, I am even more grateful for all that you have done in the past. I hope and pray that you will once again make a positive response to this year’s A.D.F. appeal. I also assure you that the budget of the Archdiocese has been reduced and our staff and I commit ourselves to good stewardship and faithful service. The Scripture verse, which is always true, seems even more relevant for us in these difficult times. Jesus said: “What profit is there for a person to gain the whole world but to suffer the loss of his immortal soul?” It is this salvation in Jesus Christ that is the goal and the purpose of our Catholic faith. This is the mission of the Church, the Good News of Jesus which is supported by your generous response to our A.D.F. appeal. Thank you and God bless you.
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