Next Weekend Is
Priests For Our Future: The Church Is Alive!
Commitment Weekend!!
During all Masses next weekend, we will invite all parishioners who have not yet made
their decision to join us in participating in the Priests for Our Future: The Church is
Alive! Campaign - to ensure we have the resources to provide for the education and
formation of our future priests by establishing a permanent endowment fund with a
minimum of $30,000,000 dedicated to meeting those costs on a long-term basis. We
invite you to consider a sacrificial gift to the campaign – one that is right for your family.
We are happy to report that we have now exceeded both of our parish goals. St. Francis
de Sales raised $63,575 or 127% of their $50,000 goal. St. Joseph raised $101,000,
reaching 112% of their $90,000 goal.
Please prayerfully consider joining your fellow parishioners in supporting our future
priests who are a blessing for our entire diocese. It is only through the support of every
one of our parishioners that we can truly be successful.
This campaign for the future of our local Church invites each of us to consider pledging a
sacrificial amount each month over a five year period that still allows your family to
continue to support our parish. Pledging enables families to participate at a level they are
comfortable with and will allow St. Francis and St. Joseph to achieve our parish goals.
Suggested Gift Plans:
$200 per month given over 60 months equals $12,000
$150 per month given over 60 months equals $9,000
$100 per month given over 60 months equals $6,000
$75 per month given over 60 months equals $4,500
$50 per month given over 60 months equals $3,000
$35 per month given over 60 months equals $2,100
Thank you to all who have already given to make our campaign a success. Your gift to
the Priests for Our Future: The Church is Alive! Campaign at any level is greatly
appreciated.
DID YOU KNOW THAT: IN OUR
DIOCESE IN THE LAST 35
YEARS …
The number of active priests has
decreased by 56% and nearly 20% of
parishes have combined or closed?
During the same time there has been a
30% increase in the number of Catholics?
There is currently 1 active diocesan priest
for every 3,494 Catholics?
Now it is time to do our part.
Give prayerfully and generously what you
can to help our own fine young men
through 4-6 years of major seminary
(graduate school level), in perpetuity via
income from this endowment.
Thank you to those who have pledged, and
especially those who have given a
sacrificial gift.
There will be an in-pew request to
pledge to the Priests for Our Future
endowment fund the weekend of
June 6 - 7.
The need for priests is great!
One quarter of our active pastors will
reach retirement age within 10 years.
The Holy Spirit has done the most
difficult part!
The Lord has provided 33 seminarians (up
from 6 seminarians in 2004) willing to
dedicate their lives to our benefit.
We need high participation to make our
goal and to assure our children and
grandchildren holy and pastoral priests to
lead our parish – and all the parishes in
our diocese - in the future. Please pray
about your gift before June 6 so you arrive
prepared to give to educate our future
priests.
To learn more about the campaign, go to
www.priestsforourfuture.org.