October 14, 2011

Christ Our Hope annual appeal supports local ministries across archdiocese

By Sean Gallagher

In his first encyclical letter, “Deus Caritas Est” (“God is Love”), Pope Benedict XVI wrote that proclaiming the word of God, celebrating the sacraments and exercising the ministry of charity are the three essential components of the “deepest nature” of the Church (#25).

The “Christ Our Hope: Compassion in Community” annual appeal helps Catholics across central and southern Indiana carry out those ministries in their parishes, and in shared ministries that no one parish can accomplish on its own.

These include fostering Catholic education and faith formation, supporting the formation of future priests and deacons, caring for retired priests and helping those in need served by Catholic Charities agencies across the archdiocese.

Christ Our Hope gives Catholics in archdiocesan parishes the opportunity to support those ministries located in their own region, and to learn about ways that they can volunteer in various ministries in their faith communities.

In the coming weeks, members of parishes across the archdiocese will speak at weekend Masses about Christ Our Hope, and invite their fellow parishioners to prayerfully consider how they might participate in the annual appeal.

Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, apostolic administrator, recently spoke about the importance of Christ Our Hope and the gratitude that he has for the contributions made to it by Catholics across central and southern Indiana.

“Thank you for all of the blessings that you are able to bestow on many because of your charitable giving,” Bishop Coyne said. “Thank you for what you have done, and thank you for what you’re continuing to do to support the good works of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis through the Christ Our Hope annual appeal.”

(For more information about “Christ Our Hope: Compassion in Community,” log on to www.archindy.org/ChristOurHope.) †

 

Related: Schools, religious education programs proclaim the word of God

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