We are living in a time of a serious economic crisis. The country’s economy has gone through a serious recession, and we all have felt the consequences of this situation.
At the start of the new year, we all have hope that things will improve and that there will be no lack of blessings from God in our personal, family and social lives.
Despite how serious the situation is, I am happy to share with you the fact that the 2009 Archbishop’s Appeal has been a complete success. I can say with certainty that the faithful of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, in the apostolic tradition of the Catholic Church, understand and live the calling to share with others, which is undoubtedly an important aspect of our faith.
Once again we are witnesses to the generosity of the faithful of the archdiocese.
San Antonio is a place where faith is transformed into acts of solidarity. The faithful have always known how to meet the needs of the suffering. In each disaster, from Katrina to the recent tragedy in Haiti, the faithful have always responded, even in difficult times for family finances.
This generosity has not only responded to emergencies, but also to the needs of the archdiocese, such as plans for building parishes, the extension of our Assumption Seminary, and many other important campaigns for ensuring the future of the faith in our archdiocese.
When the projects are not urgent, but they are necessary, that is when the faithful’s generosity is demonstrated even more, and when we understand the deep spiritual sense of stewardship.
In fact, through material contributions, we Catholics not only comply with one of the precepts of the church, but we commit to and love more our church, because we are actively participating in helping it move forward with its evangelizing mission.
Stewardship brings about in us a change of mentality that allows us to be active members of the church, who are responsible for its mission.
St. Paul, in various passages, praises the virtue of the generosity of the believers. First, he reminds us that “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
The same apostle then praises the faithful of what was then the poor community of Macedonia, because “in a severe test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For according to their means, I can testify, and beyond their means, spontaneously, they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the service (the donations) to the holy ones.” (2 Cor 8:1-4)
St. Paul was pleased not so much with the amount collected among those poor faithful with no means of support. He was pleased because “spontaneously, they begged us insistently” to be able to participate in the collection that the saint organized for other communities that were even poorer or were being persecuted.
As we begin a new Archbishop’s Appeal campaign, I do not just want to remind you of our church’s numerous needs, or of the importance of many projects designed to ensure the survival of our faith in future generations. Above all, I want to remember the great generosity of the faithful of San Antonio, who constantly fill me with admiration.
Once again, like St. Paul, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I ask you for your exemplary generosity so that together we may be one household of faith and we may continue our mission of evangelization and social service in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
And, at the same time that I give heartfelt thanks for the examples of your joy in giving, I pray to the Lord and our holy mother of Guadalupe with all my heart that “Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:7)