This weekend, every parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh formally kicks off the Parish Appeal Program for 2023 (formerly the yearly Parish Share Program).  Within the past 10 days you should have received a letter from Fr. Bob, along with a brochure of the program, and a pledge form and envelope.
 
During the Creed at Sunday Mass, we profess that we, as Church, are One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.  This means that we are a single, united, global Church that Jesus created to bring His love to the world.  The picture on the front of the brochure, looking into the priest’s chalice at the Precious Blood of Christ during Mass, reminds us that it starts by us coming together in unity as God’s people around the altar at our local parish church and being fed by the Eucharist, which is Jesus’ real Body and real Blood.  From there, Jesus’ love, present in us, goes out to all the world as serve Him and build up His Church.
 
An important way which we are able to do this is by giving to the annual Parish Appeal Program.  The other pictures in the brochure — all of the smaller pictures around the front border, as well as the larger pictures throughout — highlight the multitude of people and programs which the Parish Appeal supports across the six counties of southwest Pennsylvania, which make up the Diocese of Pittsburgh.  The Parish Appeal supports ministries which are common to us all and make sense to do on a regional, diocesan level.  Things like supporting the seminary to train our future priests as well as ongoing training for current priests.  It supports priests who are assigned to the hospitals as chaplains — not just at the major hospitals in Pittsburgh, but also the priest chaplains who take care of St. Clair, Canonsburg, and Jefferson Hospitals in our local area.  Just like the hospital doctors, the hospital priests take care of your needs, like communion and anointing of the sick, at the hospital.  And the system works.  New this year, the Parish Appeal is giving support to the new Office of Catholic Identity and Evangelization at the diocese specifically tasked with building up individual parish activities and parish life.  You will be hearing more about this initiative in the bulletin and over upcoming weeks at Mass.  You may also text “OneChurch” to 84576 to receive individual stories of how the Parish Appeal made a difference.
 
This weekend, we are asking you to make a commitment to the 2023 Parish Appeal Program.  Please pray over the brochure that you received in the mail and reflect on how you and your family can support the mission that Jesus gives to His Church.  Consider how God has blessed you and make your pledge an expression of love and gratitude.  Your gift supports St. John XXIII Parish by counting toward our parish assessment of $272,000.  In addition, we are able to keep a portion of any money received above that amount.
 
To make a pledge or a donation, you can scan the QR Code on the back of the brochure, fill out the flap on the envelope sent with the brochure and either mail it in or drop it in the collection basket, or visit our parish website at john23.org/online-giving, which has information on how to give electronically.  There are extra brochures and envelopes in the back of church, if you did not receive one or would like another one.
 
On behalf of Bishop Zubik, thank you for your generosity.  As Jesus never tires of feeding us with His real Body and Blood in the Eucharist, so also our love goes out to all the world.