Whoever does the will of God
Dear Friends in Christ,
Today, we are being challenged and there is much talk of hard times. Many people feel unsafe and insecure. Still our faith challenges us to rely on God’s loving care for us. Think of the struggle Jesus faced as he prayed in Gethsemane, knowing He was about to die.
Saint Mark tells us, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” We are in a time when we need to come together; to reach out and help those less fortunate. In doing so we help ourselves. Our generosity strengthens us.
So many people in our midst need our support for religious education; we all need more church vocations; our retired clergy need help, our hospitals need chaplains along with many other ministries and activities that serve those in our community need our help.
God gives us so much and allows us to be better people for Him, for ourselves and for others.
Jesus includes all as his friends and family, as the theme for the 2009Archbishop’s Annual Appeal states - “Whoever does the will of God, is my brother, sister and mother”. Your past generosity has been magnifi cent and it is genuinely appreciated. While in a boat during a storm, the Apostles cried out to Jesus, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38). Jesus knows we face tough times. He reassures us and we must remember that He is always present and is with us in our struggles.
With my gratitude for your continued support of the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal and my prayerful best wishes, I am
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend George H. Niederauer
Archbishop of San Francisco
