We are now in the
New Year, and as we look ahead we will have (of course!) many second
collections. We are certainly a blessed and prosperous society, and with that
comes both the opportunity and the obligation to help. One of the most
important ways (but not the only way) is to contribute to worthwhile causes.
I believe it is
important to do this in a deliberate and a thoughtful way. You could just throw
a $5 bill every time the basket is passed. But it is more responsible, and better
involves you, to think ahead and consider how you are going to support the many
needs that come asking in our second collections. So following is the list, as
we now know it, of our second collections in 2017.
I encourage you to
do several things. First of all, look it over. Spend some time in prayer,
asking for the grace of generosity. This is charitable giving certainly, but it
is also an obligation that our Loving Father gives us to care for our brothers
and sisters in need. So ask for the grace of generosity. Ask for the courage to
do this cheerfully.
Plan how you will
respond to the various collections. Some, for example the Annual Paulist Appeal
that Fr. René Constanza will be here to preach the last
weekend of this month, may be closer to your heart than others. You may want to
support these collections more than others. Some you may judge to not be as
great a need as others, and so will support somewhat less. And of course, there
will be surprise second collections for the victims of natural disasters and
other unforeseen needs. We still need to be open to the demands of the moment.
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