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February 16, 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The prophet Jeremiah opens our scripture readings up this week with a simple message: Have faith and trust God. In this the prophet is telling how to have true happiness in this life. Jesus continues the theme of the Prophet with giving us the Beatitudes to live by. We are indeed blessed when we walk in faith and trust God.
As we continue our mission of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, I want to thank all of you who have responded to our annual Diocesan Service Fund (DSF) drive over the years.
For 2019, Cardinal DiNardo has assessed our parish DSF goal at $84,000. DSF supports more than 60 ministries that serve the faithful of the Archdiocese and us here at St. Hyacinth. From chaplains at the hospitals and the Port of Houston, to religious education training for our teachers (who pass on their faith to our children), to outreach to seniors, to youth ministry, to soup kitchens, to Catholic Charities ministry to the poor and disenfranchised, and to training for seminarians, deacons and priests, the DSF provides funding for people and program that serve us all. It’s truly our baptism calling for generosity as the Cardinal tells us “Do Not Neglect to Share What You Have”
DSF also offers disaster relief and food programs for the poorest among us, the Catholic Chaplain Corps that provides ministry in hospitals so that every Catholic patient has access to spiritual and sacramental care. Your DSF gift is in an extension of yourself and it is put to great use in bringing joy to so many people both here at the parish and throughout the archdiocese.
DSF participation enables us to impact the lives of thousands of our Archdiocesan brothers and sisters through the evangelizing, healing, nurturing and pastoral ministries of the Church. Being Disciples of Christ leads us naturally to the act of helping those who stand in need. These realities, discipleship and generosity, make up the fabric of the Christian life in which each day is lived in a personal relationship with our Lord, because each day is lived in love. Our dedication is expressed in deeds of service and support.
In the coming weeks, the Church will be asking that everyone take a moment to complete your DSF pledge envelope. Remember that your pledge can be paid in installments throughout the year. Any amount is most welcome. The DSF is a good and holy work and it is a way for us to continue our mission work here in our own diocese. When you have your pledge envelope ready, you can place it in the offertory, mail it or drop it by the office, or go on-line and donate electronically. Simply go to www.archgh.org/dsf and in three simple steps your pledge can be completed. By supporting the ministries of the Church we nurture and enrich our Archdiocese and we carry out the design of God; indeed, we bear lasting and living fruit.
I’m often asked how much should a family give to DSF. That’s ultimately up to you to decide but maybe I could suggest that you consider giving at least $1 a day (a $365 yearly pledge) to support DSF. Remember that you don’t have to pay it all at once. You can spread it out through the year, and there are options for credit card payments or bank drafts. But please do make a pledge of any size. I know these are tight economic times for all of us, but generosity has always been a hallmark of the people of STHY. Let us prayerfully discern God’s call so that we too might join with the faithful throughout the archdiocese to follow the Lord in this great work.
As a parish, an Archdiocese, and as a Universal Church, we form a community of disciples, the Body of Christ, of which we ourselves, individually and together are united members. I send out my sincere thanks to all who made a pledge for our Building Faith, Family and Future…our Sanctuary… our Home… Capital Campaign. I truly appreciate your generosity and support. Envelopes are in the Narthex along with our collection box specifically designed for our Capital campaign or you can do so online through the parish website. When you complete your donation envelope, drop it in the collection box, offertory basket, or mail it or bring it by the office at any time. Thank you for doing your part to help us reach our goal.
Finally, I want everyone to keep Permanent Deacon Candidate Mr. Charles Pitman in your prayers. Deacon candidate Charles, along with 40 men throughout the Archdiocese will be ordained to the Permanent Deaconate next weekend at the Co - Cathedral downtown. Please keep wish the Future Deacon Charles the best as he is ordained for the service of the Church.
God Bless,
Fr. Reginald Samuels