THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

The Good News

...Our Catholic Charities

Each day of the year - year after year - for almost one hundred years, the Catholic Charities organization of our Archdiocese reaches out and helps someone. Whether it is food or clothing, housing or schooling, guidance or counseling, Catholic Charities is present and acting in the lives of many, many people. The work and ministry of Catholic Charities is based on the social teachings of our Catholic faith. Our belief in Jesus and what He has revealed to us is the basis for Catholic Charities. Our motivation is the great Commandment: “Love God first and foremost and your neighbor as yourself."

Charity and reaching out to help others are essential components of our Catholic faith.  Therefore the success of Catholic Charities is measured not only by the numbers of people helped but, more importantly, by the number of people who do the helping!  Without works of charity, as the Sacred Scripture says, we are like clashing cymbals and noisy gongs.  If faith does not generate charitable action, it is dead.  Therefore, I invite you - every Catholic person of this Archdiocese - to respond in faith and love to our current Catholic Charities appeal.  

Next weekend, some exciting reports of people helped and people helping will be presented in our churches.  These stories of Catholic Charities are not fiction or dreams.  They are true accounts of people being helped by Catholic Charities.  They were made possible by your previous generosity and support of our Catholic Charities ministry.

To continue the many good works of our Catholic Charities, our appeal this fall must raise at least one and three quarter million dollars.  Anything less than that would result in reducing or canceling some very fundamental and modest programs currently in effect.  This would create great hardships for people already in need and under great stress.  Our hope, therefore, is not to reduce assistance but to increase it to all who come to us in need.

Catholic Charities is the combined efforts of the Catholic people of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.  The financial contributions which you and I make are the principal sources and means for the operating budget in the coming year.  Your support, your participation and your cooperation therefore are essential.

We need you!  The Church needs you!  The poor and the needy rely on you!  You are the hope for many who have nowhere else to turn.  Please help us to help them through our Catholic Charities organization and its programs.

Next weekend, when you come to church to participate at Mass, come with a pen and a generous heart.  Use your pen to write a commitment of financial support by completing a pledge card to this year’s Catholic Charities appeal. Let your heart inspire you to a renewed generosity to our Catholic Charities organization.

There are many of us who can and should pledge at least $100 a month to this year’s appeal.  Others can commit $25 to $50 a month.  Regardless of the amount, every Catholic person should make some pledge of monthly support to our Catholic Charities.  This is your opportunity to help someone in need as you gratefully acknowledge God’s goodness and His love!