THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN
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The Good News ... Servants of All |
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Catholic Charities Annual Meeting My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: With gratitude and joy we gather together today for our annual Catholic Charities Mass and meeting. The work and mission of Catholic Charities goes on day and night every day of the year because it is the work of God Who is always present and ready to help us, His people. Once a year therefore, we examine the marvelous opportunity we have to be involved in God’s work through the ministry of our Catholic Charities. These reflections today should encompass three specific areas: 1) Gratitude 2) Assessment 3) Challenges We could also identify these are past, present and future. The Gratitude (Past) In the past, God has blessed each of us in countless ways. This is very evident in the progress and success of our Catholic Charities efforts throughout the history of the Church here in Oklahoma. Thus, first and foremost, we thank God for all His gifts, graces and blessings of life. We recognize that God works in and through His people. Therefore, we are extremely grateful to the Catholic Charities board of directors and the very dedicated and competent staff of our various Catholic Charities projects and services. You are the people who are responsible for planning, implementing and effecting the great apostolate of Catholic Charities. Next, I thank the Catholic people of this Archdiocese. Your combined donations now surpass one and a half million dollars in the annual campaign thus making possible these many good works. In addition, I thank the wider Oklahoma City community for the individuals and corporations that also have contributed to the operations of our Catholic Charities. To all who in any way at all have given of their resources or their time and talents, I say thank you and may the good Lord bless you most abundantly. The Assessment (Present) The assessment of our Catholic Charities apostolate is on-going. The board members and the staff are constantly reviewing our ministries and our services. There is also much welcomed input from the people we serve. We recognize in them the Image of God and our relationship as brothers and sisters. Thus last year, following the example of Jesus, our theme was “Servant of All.” Just like Jesus Who came to serve and not to be served, our goal as Catholic Charities sponsors, workers and administrators is to serve. To reach out and to serve those in need is the fundamental reason for Catholic Charities. Therefore, we are always trying to improve and extend our services wherever they are needed. The Challenges (Future) Through the 20th Century, Catholic Charities has distinguished itself as a vibrant Christian source of social services and an incentive to faithful citizenship. Now at the beginning of this 21st Century, radical views, changing circumstances, fear and terrorism, declining family values, lack of health care services and an aging population present new challenges to our society at large and to the Church and Catholic Charities in particular. How can Catholic Charities cope with these and other pressing issues of society and faith? Where will we obtain the finances, the personnel and the means necessary for the day by day struggles and demands? How do we know what we are doing is right? These were the very same kind of questions people put to Jesus in the Gospel. They asked Him: “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus replied: “This is the work of God - have faith in the One Whom He sent.” Dear Catholic Charities people - workers, volunteers, supporters - this is our challenge. This is our answer. This is the direction that Catholic Charities must always follow and observe. We must believe in Jesus. He is our Way, our Truth and our Life. The work that we do as Catholic Charities is always a continuance of the work of God. We are His servants, His instruments, but He is the Lord. He provides not only the inspiration but also the sustenance that we need to accomplish this work. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of this as He says: “It is My Father Who gives you the real heavenly Bread. God’s Bread comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” No wonder the people said: “Sir, give us this Bread always.” Then Jesus said: “I Myself am the Bread of Life. No one who comes to Me shall ever be hungry. No one who believes in Me shall thirst again.” It is precisely because we are a Eucharistic people that we can perform the works of God. The success of the works of Catholic Charities which come through our hands is driven by the Power of God through the faith we have in Jesus. For this reason, we maintain that Catholic Charities is a Christian ministry of service and not simply a social agency. Similarly, this annual meeting today does not consist only in reporting or transacting business but, rather, it begins with and flows from this celebration of the Eucharist. “Take My Flesh and eat It,” Jesus says, “Take My Blood and drink It and you shall have life everlasting.” In a renewed spirit of faith and with this divine assurance, let us continue our Eucharistic celebration and our Catholic Charities efforts for we are “Servants of All.” |