THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

HOME

PAST
GOOD NEWS

March 2, 2008

The Good News...

... ADF……Prayers

At this time of year, I take advantage of the opportunity the Church offers us in the use of the General Intentions which we often call the “Prayers of the Faithful.” I regularly insert a prayer asking God to grant us a successful ADF appeal. I do so most sincerely and ardently as I realize that all the ministries, programs and services of the Church of this Archdiocese are funded primarily through the ADF. Therefore, I invite you also to join with me in prayer for this important appeal.

The ADF also generates other opportunities for prayer. Last year, thousands of people returned a prayer card which I had included in the appeal information. Those were re-quests from the donors asking me to pray for their intentions.

Those prayer cards have two parts. The first consists in checking some of the ordinary or regular prayers we offer such as prayers for vocations or health or peace. The second part has blank lines where the names of deceased friends and family can be written. There are also several blank lines where other individual personal requests can be made.

As the ADF staff processes the appeal returns, they gather the prayer request cards for me. I take these requests and read each one be-fore placing them in a special basket in front of the tabernacle in my chapel. Then, each time I come to the chapel, I am automatically reminded of your requests. Then, each time I ask Almighty God to hear our prayers for these needs and intentions.  These prayer cards remain there before the Lord for a full year until the next ADF appeal.

Although the 2008 ADF appeal was begun just one month ago, I have already placed several thousands of these cards in the “prayer basket.” In reading these and in offering them up in prayer, I am very moved. In both the part where a check mark was made and in the part where specific personal intentions are written in, by far, the most common and frequent request for prayer is for “family.”

Many of the “family” requested prayers are for unity and strength and God’s blessing on particular people (husband, wife, children).  Many are ardent requests to pray for family members who have strayed from the faith or have left the Church completely.

Another area of concern are the requested prayers for the people who feel “lost in life.” These are people of faith struggling with the daily difficulties of life seemingly alone.  They feel abandoned by family and friends.  They question the Church as they often do not sense its support. They wonder about their own relationship with God.  To all of these, I encourage you. Do not fear, the Lord is truly with you. Together, let us pray as the Gospel tell us: “Lord, I do believe! Help my unbelief!”

I am very grateful that so many of you have requested that I pray for you. That you would take the time to open your hearts to me is most humbling. That you would share with me your deep concerns urges me to serve you more enthusiastically. It is indeed good to know your personal struggles to live the faith more fully and your ardent desires to bring your loved ones back to the pilgrimage of faith that leads to life everlasting in heaven. This knowledge and this information will not remain academic.  Now, it has become part of my daily prayer for each of you and for your very special requested intentions.

I assure you, the true effects of our ADF appeal cannot be counted in dollars and cents. Rather, the  real measure of the ADF success consists in the renewal of our faith. Your monetary contributions are important for the continuing work of the Church and they are clear signs of your own personal faith. But the ultimate goal is the strengthening of that faith. Remember, God created us in His own Image and Likeness so that we would know, love and serve Him. Why? In order that someday we can rejoice with Him forever in heaven. As the Scripture says:  “What profit is there for a person to gain the whole world and to suffer the loss of his immortal soul?”

I am so pleased that in the Providence of God, I have come to be your Archbishop. Therefore, as I walk with you on this pilgrimage of faith, I promise to pray for all of you and your intentions, especially you who have requested my prayers. Your requests given with your ADF response are in my heart as well as in my chapel, before the Eucharistic Lord. Together, therefore, may we walk safely, joyfully and gratefully before the Lord.