Fr. Chuck's Column, October 6, 2019

Thank you to every family who has made a commitment to the Encountering Christ campaign here at St. Austin. Because of your generosity, we have received in donations or pledges $1,350,590 from 234 gifts, which is 67% of our $2,030,000 parish goal. This is incredible! 30% of these gifts will come back to St. Austin to assist us with our interior church upgrades, specifically the sound system and lighting renovations we so desperately need, and the commissioning of new statues of Saints Mary Magadalene and Phoebe which you will see soon.

Encountering Christ is not just a campaign; it is a greater mission to invite people to know the love of Christ and be one in community with us. This campaign’s success requires everyone in the parish spending time in prayer to reflect on the gifts they have received and consider how their support of Encountering Christ will impact both mission and ministry.

If you have not yet made a gift, I respectfully ask you to pray and discern what the Lord is calling you to do. You can visit the campaign website at www.encounteringchristcampaign.org and watch videos that show the impact Encountering Christ will have on local ministry. The Diocese of Austin is growing quickly and adjusting its mission and ministry accordingly. The videos are compelling and poignant.

Over this past spring and summer, the St. Austin community worked diligently to maximize our participation in the Encountering Christ campaign. At the urgent request of Bishop Joe Vásquez, we will conduct an additional Commitment Weekend on October 12 and 13. This final weekend will ensure that every family has the opportunity to make a pledge to the campaign.

Encountering Christ has my full support, and I pray that you consider joining with me, Bishop Joe Vásquez and 12,000 families across the diocese by making a pledged commitment. If you are not able to contribute financially at this time, we ask for your prayers of support through the campaign.

If I can be of any assistance to you in your discernment process, please reach out to me. I am honored to be your pastor, and humbly grateful for the outpouring of support I have seen through this Encountering Christ campaign effort.