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January 20, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In the Gospel this week, Jesus begins his public ministry by calling all the people to “repent and believe in the gospel’, and calling the disciples go follow him. Are we ready to repent and follow? In the gospel, Jesus chooses ordinary people with everyday occupations to be his followers and disciples. We may not feel worthy, but Jesus makes us worthy to spread his good news.
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. In the next few weeks we will be presenting more and more information for the 2021 DSF campaign.
For 2021, Cardinal DiNardo has assessed our parish DSF goal at $80,000. DSF supports more than 60 ministries and programs that serve the faithful of the Archdiocese and us here at St. Hyacinth. From Catholic 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 to “Walk in the Light of Christ”
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 (envelopes are available in the narthex). 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 several simple steps your ongoing donation can start. 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 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.
Our parish is required to meet our goal, whether paid by us individually or paid from our general operating parish funds at the end of the year. For the 2020 DSF St Hyacinth missed the DSF fundraising goal by $15,386. These funds are paid out of the general operating funds of the parish.
Catholics across the country are encouraged to observe a nationwide prayer for the Unborn. You’re invited to join Catholics nationwide in praying for the respect of human life. The annual 9 Days for Life novena will take place from January 21st through the 29th. Marking the 48th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions legalizing abortion through nine months of pregnancy. Since those decisions, over 60 million abortions have been performed legally in the United States.
God Bless,
Fr. Reginald Samuels
