Each year, the archdiocese unites, as a family of faith, to participate in the mission of the Archbishop’s Appeal. On Jan. 21, a dinner of appreciation was held at the Holy Trinity Parish Banquet Hall to recognize those whose dedicated work has made the appeal a success, and to hear the remarks of representatives of some of the ministries made possible by funding.
Following an opening prayer from Archbishop José H. Gomez, the incoming chairman of the Priest Committee for the 2009 Archbishop’s Appeal, Father Francis McHugh, spoke of the generosity which has provided funding to thousands of individuals in San Antonio and the surrounding areas.
“The Archbishop’s Appeal summons Christian people to responsibility on a large scale in society and a small scale in everyday life,” said Father McHugh.
“If you help the poor, help those in need, they will help you in the next life.”
He emphasized that there is a tremendous satisfaction in giving, and that having a right attitude about money is a huge asset in life, while exploring what the Gospel says about giving to those in need.
“We can’t just preach about the poor and not serve them in a Godly way,” said the pastor of St. Pius X Church.
“But if we just serve them but don’t preach, we don’t give them an appreciation of everlasting life.”
He asked the close to 300 in attendance to be co-workers with Archbishop Gomez to promote the appeal, urging them to be in love with the appeal through their attitudes, hearts and minds.
“May the many contributions to the 2009 appeal go beyond the call of duty. May the faithful be an inspiration to all,” he concluded. “When you know everything you have belongs to the Lord, you can be a cheerful giver.”
Steve Saldaña, president and chief executive officer of Catholic Charities, acknowledged that the country is in sobering times with a challenging economy, describing how some foundations have said they will be cutting back on giving up to 75 percent this year, a comment that elicited more than a handful of gasps from the audience.
“It will be a challenge to get people to give what they have, but Catholic Charities could not be the agency it is without you,” he emphasized.
Saldaña focused on a number of Catholic Charities efforts which help people get their feet on the ground, such as the crisis intervention program — which assists with utilities, food and clothing — counseling program, immigration program and parenting program, the largest offering of its kind in the region which works with 1,000 teen parents.
In discussing the program, he said simply, “It keeps them from getting frustrated and killing their children.”
Saldaña closed by saying, “We are your agency. We exist because of you. With your help people have a chance.”
Father Norman Ermis, outgoing chairman of the Priest Committee for the 2008 Archbishop’s Appeal, also serves as chairman of the Priest Pension Fund of the archdiocese. He presented some sobering statistics regarding the financial needs of the older ordained over the next few years.
Close to $1.1 million was provided to 68 retired priests of the archdiocese last year. Priests of the archdiocese are not able to earn full retirement until age 70, and of the 68 drawing funds, 39 are fully retired, 19 are semi-retired and eight collect partial payments.
A full-time retirement check is $1,630 a month, with $1,000 going to those semi-retired. At least three more men plan to retire in 2009, and possibly more, said Father Ermis, who serves as pastor at St. Margaret Mary Church.
Three sources of income provide for the retirement funds, said the priest. Of those funding streams, the Archbishop’s Appeal provides $200,000, while assessments to parishes and a once a year special collection are the other two avenues.
Father Ermis commented, “We appreciate the generosity of the people of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.”
Sister Carla Marie Lusch, SSND, superintendent of schools, offered a bit of a reality to check to listeners in her presentation when she began by saying that there are no longer tuition free schools and that many parishioners can no longer afford to be the sole supporter of a Catholic school.
Saying that numbers are very important today, she listed several important figures. There are 13,718 children enrolled in Catholic schools this year, a 585 student decrease in enrollment from the previous year, and down thousands from the 16,640 enrolled just a decade ago.
Tuition at Catholic elementary schools averages around $3,400 with the cost going up to about $6,600 for high school cost. Of course, this amount does not include monies generated from fundraising, parish subsidies, etc.
In 2008, the Archbishop’s Appeal awarded $150,000 in tuition assistance to 339 students.
“That means 44 grateful principals and one very grateful superintendent,” Sister Lusch said to laughter from the crowd.
Unfortunately, and sadly, 140 families were turned away because not enough tuition assistance was available. Sister Lusch described many of these applicants as single parents who want sound Catholic education for their children, grandparents raising grandchildren, military families and good Catholic families who want to send, two, three and four children to Catholic schools.
“They are the future of our church, our community and our world,” said the superintendent.
She continued, “On behalf of these families I thank Archbishop Gomez and each one of you for supporting our schools through the Archbishop’s Appeal.”
In wrapping up the evening’s festivities, the archbishop offered a bit of a “state of the archdiocese” address to review some of the good things happening in the church in South Texas.
“For the first time in a long, long time, we will have nine new priests this year. It is a great blessing and due to the good work of the Office of Vocations and Assumption Seminary,” he said to thunderous applause from the gathered donors. Three priests were ordained to the presbyterate this month, and six transitional deacons are scheduled to receive holy orders on May 2.
Other good news cited by the archbishop was the opening this fall of the new Pope John Paul II Catholic High School in the Northeast part of San Antonio.
“This year will be a challenging year, but we need to come together and support the ministries of the church and work together as a community,” said Archbishop Gomez.
“Share these things with other people. It is the church in action. The Catholic Church is a wonderful reality in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.”
Appeal Sunday will be held Feb. 14 and 15 in parishes throughout the archdiocese.