Nov. 10-11 is the annual United Catholic Appeal intention weekend in archdiocesan parishes

Criterion staff report

The weekend of Nov. 10-11 is the archdiocesan annual United Catholic Appeal (UCA) intention weekend in parishes across the archdiocese.

The goal for this year’s appeal is $6.6 million. The money will be distributed to various ministries and organizations throughout central and southern Indiana that provide help that no single parish or deanery could independently offer.

The theme of this year’s appeal is “All for the Sake of Others.”

“My dad was good at fixing cars,” says Archbishop Charles C. Thompson. “He especially liked brake repair, often fixing brakes for friends, family and neighbors.

“But he would never take money for his work. Instead, he would ask the person to just pass it on to someone else who needed it.”

Similarly, says Archbishop Thompson, “I am asking you to please pass on some of the blessings God has given you by making a gift to our United Catholic Appeal.”

As the shepherd of the Church in central and southern Indiana, he says he sees the many needs throughout central and southern Indiana.

Among those needs are seminarian and deacon formation, clergy retirement, refugee resettlement, shelter for the homeless, Catholic centers for college students, Catholic education and much more.

As with the parable of the good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37), Catholics are called to assist all those in need. And as in the parable of the widow’s mite (Lk 21:1‑4), it is not the amount of the donation that matters, but that each gives out of their own livelihood rather than out of their surplus.

The examples below, based on statistics from the archdiocesan Office of Stewardship and Development, illustrate how various contribution amounts can make a difference in central and southern Indiana:

• $10 provides undergarments for two homeless children.
• $50 provides three meals a day for a family of five for five days.
• $100 provides training for 30 sponsor couples on how to mentor newly-engaged couples.
• $400 pays tuition for one seminarian to participate in a summer hospital chaplaincy program.
• $600 helps a parish leader or catechist attend an annual, regional conference for catechetical ministry.

“Please consider making a gift for the sake of others,” says Archbishop Thompson. “True happiness is living generously for others.”
 

(For more information on the United Catholic Appeal, visit archindy.org/UCA or call the Office of Stewardship and Development at 317-236-1415 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1415.) †