THE GOOD
NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN
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| OKLAHOMA CITY ARCHDIOCESE |
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from
March 4, 2007 ‘God’s
Love Made Flesh’
The Feb. 19 gathering opened with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Eusebius Beltran. After Mass, a reception and awards ceremony was held in the beautiful Marian Hall. “Catholic Charities, I believe, is the best-kept secret in the Catholic Church,” said Robert Dolan, in welcoming the gathering to the awards ceremony. Dolan is president of the Catholic Charities Board of Directors. Tim O’Connor, executive director of Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City, thanked Father William Novak, pastor, and Saint John parishioners for hosting the celebration. “This is where this celebration needs to be, in a parish and not in a banquet hall or in a hotel,” O’Connor said. He said the mission of Catholic Charities is to work closely with parishes and agencies, providing support for ministries that reach out to those in need.
“God does not demand perfection of us,” Abbot Lawrence said. “God does not demand that we perform a prescribed set of rituals and traditions. Rather, Jesus teaches us that we will be judged on how we have responded to the least of his brothers and sisters. It matters not whether we have done so consciously or not.” Abbot Lawrence reeled off a number of ministries Catholic Charities supports and said “God’s love is made flesh” through these many services. He cited Catholic Charities supported ministries such as “counseling, disaster relief, family HOPE ministries and family support services such as adoption services and assistance to women in crisis pregnancies through the Holy Family Maternity Home, immigration assistance, refugee resettlement assistance, social action initiatives that address such diverse causes as wages and working conditions or the challenges of the criminal justice system including that of capital punishment, quality care for the elders and those with special needs.” Abbot Lawrence pointed out parish- based ministries such as Loaves and Fishes for persons living with HIV/AIDS, the parish nurse ministry and the Saint Vincent de Paul movement as other areas receiving support from Catholic Charities. “On behalf of the many people who have been touched by the love of Christ through your work, your time, your talent, your treasure or by the smile on your face or the gentle touch of your hand, I say thank you.” |
Abbot
Lawrence Stas- yszen, O.S.B., provided the keynote address
at the reception. The chan- cellor and president of
Saint Gregory’s Univ- ersity and abbot of Saint Gregory’s
Abbey, Abbot Lawrence said Catholic Charities res- ponds
to Christ’s call for us to love and care for the least
among us.