The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, along with other bishops’ conferences throughout the world, have designated one annual collection to provide Pope Francis with funding to help the victims of war, natural disasters and disease worldwide.
In 2021, the Diocese of Columbus contributed $ 49,877.09 to this special collection, the Peter’s Pence Collection. On behalf of Bishop Earl Fernandes, I thank you for your generosity. In our diocese, the collection will be taken up on Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26.
The collection has both a symbolic and a practical value. It is a sign of our communion with the Holy Father, and it is also an opportunity for us to help those in need as Christ commands.
The pope, as pastor of the Church, is concerned with evangelization. Pope Francis said, “The Eucharist and the poor, the fixed tabernacle and the mobile tabernacles: It is there that we remain in love and absorb the mentality of bread broken, that is of Jesus, who gives himself in the Eucharist.” (May 23, 2019)
The exercise of his universal mission includes financing many service activities, such as formation and education of the clergy and seminarians, special aid to bishops and to poor dioceses in need.
When we learn that our sacrifices are given to the Holy Father, who cares for all the missions of the Church, we can never be the same. In fact, with many pandemic advisories relaxed, we can see the tired faces of our fellow men and women who need our attention and help.
The offerings of the faithful are intended to support the activities of the Holy Father for the universal Church. Education and formation of seminarians are very important. Pope St. John XXXIII said to the seminarians, “You embody the hope and certainty of the future. The Church loves you, and to you who know neither fatigue nor old age she entrusts the anxieties and preoccupations of her future. You are the flower-scented spring of tomorrow, which, with confident heart, we visualize as rich in holy affirmations for the Church of God, while Our hands are raised in a gesture of encouragement and benediction.” (Jan. 28, 1960)
Forming of future priests requires funding. As we know, after ordination they become the channel for bringing us to the Eucharist; preside over marriages, baptisms and funerals; and lead worship for tens of thousands of us.
Bishop Edward C. Malesic, in his address to seminarians, said, “Go with the zeal of the first disciple of Jesus, armed with all the knowledge you need and more about the Trinity. Epistemology, the hypostatic union and social teaching of the Church and those other subjects related to your field. Use your spiritual human pastoral formation here to do good. Become men of service. Use it all for God’s people, especially for those on the fringes of faith. In fact, go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” (Leaven, Fall 2021)
God delights in His children who show mercy to their fellow men, even if we do the smallest deeds of kindness toward the needy, homeless, orphans, widows and poor.
Speaking from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square on Aug. 23, Pope Francis said, “Christian charity is not simple philanthropy, but, on the one hand, it is looking at others through the eyes of Jesus Himself and, on the other hand, seeing Jesus in the face of the poor.
“We will be helped by staying before the tabernacle and before the many living tabernacles who are the poor. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.’ (John 3:16) “God loves you and me without any distinctions.”
Thank you for your sacrificial response to the Peter’s Pence Collection and for all you do for the mission work of the Church. Take this opportunity to join with Pope Francis and be a sign of mercy. Please be generous!