May 27, 2005
Annual Catholic Appeal reveals our true treasure
by Beth Williams
The mission of the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) has as this year’s theme, "Serving Others." The ACA asks us to take a moment to reach within the deepest center of our heart and discover if our actions parallel those of Jesus Christ.
This inner look at ourselves gives us the perfect opportunity to acknowledge the times we have neglected to love our friends, family or those we do not know. The mission mentions the Gospel and its breathtaking power to shatter a heart consumed by hate and restore it to its former beauty with an unquenchable thirst to love unselfishly.
Jesus is the flawless definition of charity, and He reveals how His mercy puts love into hearts giving them a second chance. This mission intrigues and invites all to play a part in spreading God’s love. Our souls are transformed into sanctuaries of peace and happiness, while loneliness and despair are melted away. The purpose of the ACA is serving others through pastoral, charitable and educational programs.
A Catholic community is not simply known by its mere description but rather by how the members of the community participate and demonstrate their love in a positive manner. Talents express one’s originality under the guidance of our morals and values. They can bring emotional support to afflicted people.
The Gospel tells us Jesus performed miracles out of compassion for people who were hurting. By taking the time to appreciate each human life with either a kind word, a shoulder to lean on, a favor done without request, or the satisfaction of a spiritual or physical need, Catholics can make fruitful use of their time, talent or treasure.
For us to be true stewards, each person must be seen as an image of God’s love and a temple of the Holy Spirit. We should never think twice when we are asked to help but rejoice to bring Christ’s light to others and allow this light to shine through our lives. We must embrace this challenge, and God will give us the courage to take on this never-ending task.
The treasure of love is that the more you give it away the more you have. Any loving deed we perform serves as a prayer. The ACA’s mission works as an instrument of God’s will and guides us to see past human ideals and become united stewards of the world.
The Scriptures provide the guidelines for the ACA mission statement. The ACA’s goal is to call the Catholic community to live their lives in service of others in response to Jesus Christ’s Gospel message.
Matthew 25:31-46 describes how our lives will be judged on whether we fed the hungry, clothed the naked or welcomed the stranger.
Matthew 6:20-22 instructs us to store up treasures in heaven, "For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."
The ACA’s mission is to have us share ourselves with others, not for our own personal gain, but out of love for one another. The Second Letter to Timothy (2:22) invites us to "... turn from youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with purity of heart." The ACA reminds us of our need to work together to bring the Kingdom of God to our community.
I do not want to become an adult without having made prior choices to be strong in my faith and be willing to defend it without wavering or being hypocritical. I respond to the call to participate in the mission of the ACA by my involvement in volunteer and charitable work.
I hope this will allow those whose lives I touch to feel that they are precious gifts from God, having dignity and worth, and that they too are called to make this world a brighter place. The ACA stresses how important it is for us to enrich other’s self-esteem with kind acts of love.
The focus of one of my volunteer efforts for the last eight years has been in pro-life ministries like the Life Chain. I hope the message of being pro-life inspires mothers to choose life. Working with the Life Chain, I have prepared and distributed the signs on Respect Life Sunday. I wish each sign represented a soul that breathes easier, a life that has been saved.
The ACA funds youth ministry with its various projects. Youth ministry offers retreat and spiritual growth opportunities. Race, sex, age and culture are no barriers from loving one another. It is a difficult human challenge, but if we can see beyond this, the results would be triumphant.
Blessed Mother Teresa pointed this out so beautifully, "We can do no great things — only small things with great love."
Beth is a senior at St. Dominic High School.
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