Date: Sunday, February 05, 2017
In our Gospel today Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house.” Jesus is inviting and challenging his disciples to let “your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly father.”
As Jesus announced the Kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel according to St. Matthew, so today, I announce publicly the coming of “Upon This Rock” to Annunciation. It can’t be a big surprise to anyone who has been reading my columns or listening at Mass or viewing our map on the sanctuary steps. Our purpose has been to present “Upon This Rock” with the richness of its biblical symbolism and its meaning within our Catholic tradition. What we have been doing here at Annunciation has caught the attention of the WNY Catholic Newspaper. Take a copy home to see how we have become a news item worthy of publication.
“Upon this Rock” is the title given to this diocesan campaign to endow the good work of the Church at Buffalo and to support the local parish. The overall goal is $100,000,000. Wow! Yet with block 4 parishes just staring (we are already underway in block 3) 78 % of this goal has reached in donations and pledges. Our local parish goal is $1,016,500. It would seem a daunting task but we are near the 50% mark already before announcing the appeal publicly. It is very important for people to understand that 35% of the money pledged & received by The Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo will be returned to us to be used at Annunciation. The other 65% will be invested in endowments to sustain the good work and institutions of the Church at Buffalo including Catholic Charities, campus ministry, Catholic Schools, healthcare for retired priests, St. Joseph Cathedral, Christ the King Seminary, communications & outreach, evangelization & catechesis, Mother Teresa Home, and a special fund for parishes in poverty.
This year only, since Upon This Rock campaign will overlap with the Catholic Charities Appeal, the UtR campaign and CC appeal are bundled together. Catholic Charities will not be sending you an appeal letter during the Upon This Rock campaign. But by giving to Upon This Rock you will also be giving to Catholic Charities and helping us reach our Catholic Charities goal.
Mary Jo Ketchum is chair of our Upon This Rock committee. Alyssa Jerge is our UtR representative from the Foundation. During the month of February I will be reaching out to as many parishioners as I can to explain UtR. Mary Jo Ketchum and Sarah Haefner have both volunteered to help me. Please sign up at the entrances to Church and we will set a good time and place to talk.