Dear Parishioners and Friends,
I pray for God’s blessings on you and your family as this letter arrives in your home. I kindly ask that you take just a few minutes to read these few words.
In preparing to write to you I re-read St. Mark’s Gospel, chapter 4:35-41. We find Jesus and the apostles at sea in a turbulent storm. The apostles are frightened and believe the boat will sink, though “Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.” The apostles cry out to Jesus, wake Him, and He responds by calming the storm. Then Jesus says: “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”
During its long history the Church has experienced many trials. Yet the successors of the apostles and the Christian Faithful continue to look to Jesus to calm all storms and bring us His peace. What Jesus did then He promises to continue to do for us now in the Church of our time. For this we pray!
With this letter I formally initiate the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal (AAA) for 2020 in our parish. As a priest for almost forty years, I can readily testify to the need for this campaign to financially support the ministry that unites all of the parishes in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Marriage counseling, youth ministry, religious education, the Catholic Press, charitable institutions, our seminarians, our retired priests, and much more, benefit from your donations. There is a tremendous harvest awaiting the response of faithful laborers. Each is called to do his or her part. I am counting on you to come through once again for the glory of God.
Our assessment for this year (2020) comes to $77,715.00. In 2019 our goal was $83,531.00. $76,212.00 was raised directly from your generous gifts to the campaign. This means that we paid the balance of $7,319.00. Thank you for your special generosity, because in 2018 we had to pay $17,000.00 from parish funds. Well done parish! Let us strive to raise 100% of our goal in 2020 and even beyond.
Enclosed you will find further information (also available at the entrances of the church, in the pews, or in the parish office). Please consider making your best contribution and mailing it in today. Or you could pledge and spread out the payments. On behalf of all those who benefit from your kindness I express to you my sincere and heartfelt thanks. If you are able to donate or are unable to donate, make sure that you are part of our prayer army. God bless you! Mary love you!
Yours in the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor