THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

HOME

PAST
GOOD NEWS

February 7, 2010

The Good News...

           ...Archdiocesan Development Fund

Jesus said, “Go out into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel!  Teach all people the Good News and baptize them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”  This is the mission of the Church.  This is the work the Lord sends us out to do.

How do we accomplish this mission, this work of the Lord? We do this in our religious education classes, in our youth group gatherings, in pastoral ministry classes, Baptism and Confirmation preparations, RCIA sessions and every celebration of the sacraments. These are just some of the many, many ministries and services of the Church.

All these services and all these works are provided by the Church through the generosity of you, the Catholic people of this Archdiocese, through the annual Archdiocesan Development Fund appeal.  

The organization of the Catholic Church in central and western Oklahoma and the Panhandle comprise the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The combined efforts of all Catholic people living in our Arch-diocese are especially evident and effective in our annual Archdiocesan Development Fund appeal, which we simply call ADF.  In the past the ADF has been very successful because so many of you generously responded to my request and made financial pledges or commitments. To all of you, I am grateful. I thanked you in the past and I thank you now again.

The 2010 ADF appeal began in early January when I mailed the  special gift letters.  It reaches its apex this weekend (Feb. 6-7) as the appeal is conducted in every parish of the Archdiocese. It is fulfilled throughout the year by the payments of the monthly pledges made now.

Therefore, in addition to my recorded message, which you will hear at Sunday Mass and the extensive information on ADF in the Jan. 24 issue of the Sooner Catholic, I have yet another request. I come to you today to seek your support for this year's ADF appeal. Will you consider my sincere request and make a generous pledge to our 2010 ADF appeal?

Once again, our ADF goal is $3 million.  With your support, combined with the positive response of other people in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, we will attain our goal. Then we shall be able to continue and fulfill the ministry of service which the Lord has given us as His Church.

To those of you who have already made your 2010 ADF pledge, I sincerely thank you and assure you of my continuing prayers and gratitude.

To those who have not yet made a pledge, I ask you sincerely to consider a pledge of $25 or $50 a month over the next 10 months of this year. In advance I thank you for your generous support and assure you of my prayers.

To all Catholic people of the Archdiocese, thank you for enabling me and all the staff of the Archdiocese to do the work that Jesus entrusted to His Church.  

Thank you for your financial commitment through your generous pledge to our 2010 ADF appeal.

. . . Young Men - Old Men - All Catholic Men

Today, by means of this Sooner Catholic issue, I am extending a  personal invitation to you — COME.  Come to the 14th annual In the Father’s Footsteps Catholic Men’s Conference. This exciting, inspiring event is a highlight in our archdiocesan continuing pilgrimage of faith. It is a tremendous opportunity for every one of us to be renewed and strengthened, to discover and appreciate the truths of our Catholic faith.

The complexities of society, the economic downturn and the world-wide terrorism that affect us all  cannot just be dismissed. Rather, these circumstances of our daily lives need answers. We all need direction and guidance and support.

The Men’s Conference is based on solid Catholic teaching. It is a means to help us better appreciate the inherent dignity we possess as God’s people created in His Image and Likeness. The Men’s Conference helps us to recognize our responsibilities as men and inspires us to go forth eagerly to fulfill them and to live the fullness of our Catholic faith.

Men, married or single, young or old, the 14th Men’s Conference is for you! Fathers and grandfathers, bring your teenage or college age sons and grandsons to this exciting conference.

This   14th   annual   Men’s Conference is scheduled for Satur-day, Feb. 20 at the new Embassy Suites just off I-35 in the northern part of Norman. Doors to the con-ference center will open at 8 a.m. and the program will begin promptly at 9 a.m. The conference day will conclude with the celebration of the Eucharist at 4:30 p.m. I am pleased to be able to celebrate that Mass and invite you to join me.  I hope to see you all day at the conference and at the Mass.