Blog
October is CSR Month!
As I mentioned last week at Mass, this October we begin our CSR (Catholic Stewardship Renewal.)
This replaces the Catholic Stewardship Appeal (CSA.) In the past the CSA was conducted to financially support the Diocese at large. This year, and henceforth, the CSR is conducted to fund each individual
parish. This year we will keep 90% of what we raise. I encourage everyone to donate to this cause, no matter what you normally tithe.
You will soon receive the stewardship packet in the mail.
The CSR is more than a financial campaign. It is also about renewing and strengthening our faith. The greatest and easiest way we strengthen our faith is coming to Mass on the weekend.
The Lord commands us to give one day a week to the Lord. We do that by coming together as the Church, the ecclesia. When Christ established the Church, He founded a community of believers. When all of us are gathered together we are a family of faith in the truest sense.
I understand we can pray anywhere. The tractor, the sofa, the deer stand, the office and the car or in a beautiful place in nature. However, again, Christ regathered the human race into a Church, that had been fractured by Original Sin, to give and offer Him to His Father in that most perfect sacrifice. Our faith is strengthened as well in individual/familial settings. I encourage all of us to set aside a small amount of time each day for prayer, as a family or as individuals.
To the school children I ask you to teach your parents to pray at meals, just as you do here at school. Prayer aids in dealing with difficult times and trials in our lives. It helps us in making small and large decisions, and perhaps most importantly, prayer reassures that we are loved and watched over, giving us a real sense of peace.
Finally, the CSR campaign is about renewing our commitment to both our school and parish. Every parish has about 10% of people who volunteer for all events and functions. I ask all parishioners who are not giving assistance to the school functions, as well as the parish events to join in
and have some fun. You won’t meet a greater group of people helping your fellow parishioners! I invite everyone to join or organize a prayer/spiritual group.
When two or more are gathered in His Name, He is there. Make this year’s CSR campaign a success not only for our parish financially, but a success in spiritual growth.