As Catholics, prayer is essential to our everyday life – prayers of praise, prayers of thanks, and prayers of petition. We recognize God as the source of all we are and all we will be. It is by uniting our hearts and minds with God through prayer that we can carry out our work for the good of His Kingdom. Just as we hear in 1Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
As the message of Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love continues to be shared throughout the diocese, we ask that you continue to keep the success of the campaign in your prayers. A campaign prayer has been created for the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love effort:
Loving and Gracious God,
We thank you for all the ways
You have been present
to your Church
in Western North Carolina.
Look with Favor
on our petitions
And bless our endeavor
To promote the Splendor
of your Truth.
Guide us as we
Progress Forward
on our Pilgrim Journey,
Through Faith,
With Hope,
In Love.
We ask this through
the power of the Holy Spirit
And in the name
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Campaign Statistics
For the third consecutive week, the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love effort has received commitments totaling more than $1,000,000.
Good News
Block I Parishes
Our Lady of the Americas in Biscoe welcomed its first gift of the campaign. Both Fr. Ricardo Sanchez and the parish see this initiative as a great opportunity to service their debt.
Fr. Joseph Dionne and St. James the Greater in Concord welcomed three new volunteers to their Ambassador team. These families were motivated to join the effort after they learned about the diversity of the ministries being enhanced through Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love.
Families at St. Margaret Mary in Swannanoa are excited to participate in this special stewardship opportunity and look forward to seeing the needs of the greater Church addressed through this initiative.
Fr. Michael Kottar at St. Mary, Help of Christians in Shelby welcomed the first gifts to the campaign! The Campaign Executive Committee is excited to inspire the participation of families in this effort. The parish will use the funds from their local share to expand the parish parking lot and install stain glass windows.
St. Matthew in Charlotte welcomed the first gifts to the campaign. The Leadership Team at St. Matthew looks forward to embarking on the journey to share this endeavor with the parish family.
Fr. Martin Schratz at Immaculate Conception in Hendersonville hosted a Volunteer Recruitment Weekend to invite parishioners to serve as campaign ambassadors. Over 175 families indicated they would attend a special meeting this Tuesday to learn about Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love and how they can help educate the greater parish community.
At a recent reception, Fr. Paul Dechant and the volunteers at Holy Cross in Kernersville educated more than sixty families about the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love initiative. Families were excited to participate and the team raised an additional $67,600 bringing the parish to 58% of their $1,105,000 goal. One Ambassador recently voiced her “excitement to meet with a family; it was a great experience to make new friends within my own community and explore a more active life at the Church.”
Fr. Benjamin Roberts at Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe looks forward to sharing details of Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love with parishioners at a special reception. Ambassadors are excited to meet with fellow parishioners to help them understand the vital vision of the campaign.
Fr. Al Gondek at Our Lady of the Rosary in Lexington welcomed his leadership team this past week at their orientation and training meeting. His ambassadors are excited to help make this campaign a success and are looking forward to being able to use their local share for updates and renovations around the parish.
Fr. Jim Collins at St. Joseph in Newton received the first six gifts to the campaign. He is looking forward to welcoming his leadership team, as they will help share the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love initiative with the rest of their fellow parishioners. Fr. Jim intends to use the parish share for renovations to the parish hall and remodeling the wall behind the altar.
Fr. Jim Turner at Our Lady of the Highways received 12 additional gifts to the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love campaign. Just 11% away from goal, Fr. Jim’s ambassadors are more motivated than ever to help him reach his campaign target of $255,000.
At St. Benedict parish, in Greensboro, Fr. Duc Duong shared his vision for the parish and the Catholic community of Western North Carolina with 61 parishioners. Parishioners raised questions about the success of the campaign to date and were impressed by the support and generosity of families across the diocese thus far. Fifteen families made commitments for a total of $66,600 and four families joined the Ambassador team to help Fr. Duc with this important initiative.
Fr. Robert Ferris at St. Aloysius in Hickory welcomed another Ambassador to the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love effort. Families have expressed great interest not only for the parish share of funds to repair the roof of the church, but also for priest retirement and seminarian formation.
St. John the Evangelist in Waynesville and Fr. Larry LoMonaco prepare for their Commitment Weekends. Fr. LoMonaco and his dedicated group of volunteers are encouraged by the support of parishioners to date. They have raised a total of $287,350 from just 15% of the parish community. Fr. LoMonaco will invite the rest of the parish community to participate in this effort over the next two weeks.