fr. gray's column for feb 16

the shortest distance is between

Next weekend we will launch the 2020 Diocesan Development Drive. St. Mary’s Young Adult Coordinator Brian Schumacher will join us to give a testimony on his vocational journey. This fall, Brian will enter the seminary for our diocese, and, God-willing, maybe one day will have the opportunity to serve you as a priest for St. Mary’s. You will have the opportunity to make a commitment to support Brian and all of the seminarians of our Diocese, who bravely answer Christ’s Call. In addition, your gifts will be used to help feed the hungry, homeless, and children most in need throughout Utah.

The Diocesan Development Drive is the Bishop’s annual appeal. One of the largest and most importance programs the Drive supports is Vocations and Seminarian Formation. Seminarians like Brian rely on your generosity in order to be formed into the priests of Christ we need. If you believe in strong priests who truly care for, teach, and lead their parish community, then I ask you to support Brian and all our seminarians next week.

Additionally, the Drive supports organizations like Catholic Community Services (CCS). CCS seeks to provide help and hope for the poor, the hungry, and the homeless throughout our state. CCS’s programs include food assistance to thousands of families, the majority of which have children. CCS visits low-income elementary students each Friday to provides them with two bags of healthy, easy-to-prepare meals and snacks. These students would otherwise go hungry each weekend. And CCS provides low-income parents clothing and toiletries for their babies.

As we approach the season of Lent, we are called to give alms. Jesus teaches us that this means making the needs of others our own, especially those most in need. The children, the poor, the homeless are those in need. And the seminarians who sacrifice a career, a family for Christ need your help as well. Please join me in making their needs your own next week. The goal for this drive is to receive a prayerful decision from every family. I strongly encourage you to take up the call of almsgiving by supporting the Diocesan Development Drive.

In Christ,

Fr. Christopher Gray, pastor