2021-22: Caring for Our Families:
In the Spirit of St. Joseph

We are so fortunate to celebrate two milestones this year—the Year of St. Joseph and the 60th Anniversary of our diocese.  Among the many admirable attributes of St. Joseph, his faithfulness as a father is particularly meaningful to me as your Bishop so I have chosen to petition Saint Joseph, Faithful Father of the Holy Family, as the patron of my annual appeal with the theme, Caring for Our Families in the Spirit of St. Joseph.

Traditionally, a father’s role is to love, protect, and provide for his family.  St. Joseph fulfilled this call with love and care for Mary and Jesus.  I find a personal connection to St. Joseph because in many respects I have a fatherly responsibility to care for our Diocese.  My responsibility, so also yours as members of the Body of Christ, is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to serve not only the needs of our church family but also to serve the spiritual and physical needs of our neighbors. The Apostle Paul, speaking to the church of Galatia makes our responsibility clear, “as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10).   Each year the Bishop’s Annual Appeal supports programs that care for the needs of our Church family and allows us to also include the needs of our neighbor as part of our family. 

As you reflect upon your stewardship goals for this year’s campaign, I urge you to consider your gift in light of St. Joseph as a way of us caring for our family of faith. Your generous gift given will allow many in our church family to feel the love and care of the Church.  Children throughout the Diocese will receive the needed financial help to receive a Catholic education.  Our seminarians will be supported providing needed priests for the future. Students will find dynamic Campus Ministry programs to meet their spiritual needs while at college.  Single and homeless mothers will find housing, the spiritual support and medical care a mother needs to care for their child and avoid the pressures to consider an abortion.  The Bishop’s Annual Appeal will allow us to take care of those in need like a good father sacrificially gives to take care of his family. Please help me to take care of our family and support the Bishop’s Diocesan Appeal.  For as you refresh others, you will be refreshed! (Proverbs 11:25)