Archbishop
Beltran's ADF Message
How the ADF effects YOU!
Office
of Worship and Spiritual Life
Where have all the
“Families”
gone?!
By Thomas Maxwell
Executive
Director ADF Appeal
Our theme this year is “Celebration - Jubilation”. The Gospels express God’s expectations for His people to contribute a portion of His gifts to them to those who educate, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, heal the sick and give comfort to the suffering. This Archdiocese has been blessed by God with many loyal, faithful and dedicated families and individuals who have heeded God’s expectations and give generously every year. We honor and celebrate these people this year and every year and thank God for them. However, the needs and tasks continue to grow and our “Jubilation” will be over those new families and individuals who respond to God’s expectations after hearing and accepting the “inspiration” of the Holy Spirit - to help by sacrificing some of their “wants” and become true participants in God’s Family.
Once a year the Archbishop asks every Catholic family to make a pledge to provide support for over 50 agencies, ministries and programs. These serve thousands of our brothers and sisters, more than 103,000 Catholics from over 38,000 Catholic families in our 117 parishes and missions. The ADF is the only request the Archbishop makes for these purposes.
Over 26,000 families do not participate when asked to financially support the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City or their parish. Across the Archdiocese only an average of 28 percent of all registered Catholic families participate by donating their financial gifts for God’s Family. Statistics indicate that actual participation should approach at least 60 percent. That means that 32 percent of registered Catholic families which are financially able are ignoring their call from the Holy Spirit to give back to God some of the talents (gifts) that God has given to them. Thirty-two percent is 11,677 families based on registrations for 2005. Since God expects everyone to share their gifts, 100 percent participation is our goal. We need to find a way to help those who can donate, but don’t donate, find it within their heart and soul to respond to the urging of the Holy Spirit by making a sacrificial donation.
The ADF emphasis this year has to be directed to that end, to find and to bring members back to God’s Family and full participation in the life of the Archdiocese and their parish. Each parish has been “Challenged” to increase by 10 percent of the parish’s registered families, those who will become active participants and a new donor to the Archdiocese and their parish. This challenge goal is only part of the parish target. The additional part of the parish target, comes from the “Faithful Base” - the reason for our “Celebration” this year. This base is composed of those active, dedicated, supporting, parishioners who we celebrate and honor this year for their continued efforts on behalf of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and their parish. This base amount is a five year average of their generosity.
The “Goal” for the 2006 ADF is three million dollars, our efforts are directed to every family making on honest faith filled decision, guided by the Holy Spirit, about their ability to participate. Donations to the ADF for 2006 would be beyond all expectations and any designated goals, when more families put their lives in God’s hands and return to Him, His gifts to them.
The bible speaks in so many beautiful verses, that God desires for His people to use the talents He has given them wisely and to help those in need by ministering to them. The mission of the Archdiocesan Development Fund is to develop the life of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City by supporting its ministries. These various ministries cover and support the total activities of the Catholic Church, its policies, guidelines, procedures and philosophies and their implementation. These ministries provide consistency, uniformity, information, training and support/development of individuals and valuable programs. These different ministries will unfold to you as you read this in the Sooner Catholic.
The Archdiocesan Development Fund is critical to the success of the yearly activities and functions of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. However, for the 2005/2006 fiscal year it covers only around 40 percent of those expenses necessary to continue functioning. The full potential of the Archdiocese can never by realized with the level of support that 28 percent of the Catholic families provides. There are many changes occurring in that faithful 28 percent. Who will step up and fill these shoes? The amazing generosity of these people is really overwhelming when you look at the monies collected for the parishes and their second and special collections, other parish fund drives, Catholic Charities, and the ADF. Just imagine the results from an Archdiocesan donor increase to 38 percent or 50 percent or why is 60 percent not a possibility. As we know, the poor and needy will always be with us and their needs are many. Along with the poor and needy, everyone needs support as their life develops and grows in their relationship with God. Those who minister to these spiritual, physical and social needs are supported directly or indirectly, through the services of the ministers of the Archdiocese. It is not possible to assume that the current faithful givers can continue to give more and more as the needs increase in the Archdiocese. There may be a few who could give more but the answer lies with those who can but choose to do nothing.
After our “Centennial Year” of celebration, this year is a new beginning, a year of change, prayerfully, we hope a year where all of God’s Family responds to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to accept God as the center of their lives and walk with Him, letting their love for Him dictate their decisions. The parable of the footprints comes to mind, two sets where everything is fine, but only one set where He is carrying us through troubled times. All things are possible with God at our side. Sacrificial giving becomes an opportunity to enjoy, as we accept that God have given us talents, our abilities, to do as He asks, to help His people, His family by returning some of what has been received. Then the “Jubilation” will begin, as in the parables, over the finding of the “lost sheep” or the return of the “prodigal son” creating new energy, enthusiasm, a stronger community, a richness of life and support for one another throughout the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, in every parish or mission. The poor and needy of God’s Family will find comfort, dignity and understanding from their family, knowing there is willingness and love there.