{"id":830,"date":"2012-09-27T09:31:01","date_gmt":"2012-09-27T13:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=830"},"modified":"2012-09-27T09:31:01","modified_gmt":"2012-09-27T13:31:01","slug":"cma-homily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/cma-homily\/","title":{"rendered":"CMA Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B<\/a>
\nWisdom 2:12, 17-20
\nJames 3:16-4:3
\nMark 9:30-37
\nSeptember 23, 2012<\/p>\n

The disciples of Jesus are discussing which of them is the greatest, not a good thing.\u00a0 It\u2019s pride and that would be a sin.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Worse yet, they\u2019re doing right after Jesus has been telling them about how he will be arrested and crucified but they haven\u2019t understood.\u00a0 They are concerned about themselves.\u00a0 Jesus is concerned about everyone else.<\/p>\n

We need to look beyond ourselves.\u00a0 We need to look beyond the boundaries of our parish.\u00a0 We need to remember that we are part of one Body of Christ.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, it is time to begin our annual diocesan Catholic Ministries Appeal.\u00a0 This is nothing new.\u00a0 It\u2019s been going on for thirty years but it\u2019s important.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t just a matter of sending the diocese some money.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about who we are as Christians, one Body in Christ, called to proclaim the Gospel message and share God\u2019s love.<\/p>\n

We are called to be good stewards of our time, talent, and treasure.\u00a0 The way we give of our time and talent is focused here in our county.\u00a0 We give of our treasure right here too.<\/p>\n

But we can also contribute beyond our parish.\u00a0 There are many organizations that ask for contributions.\u00a0 Why give to the diocese?<\/p>\n

Some people might want to ask what does the diocese for us?<\/p>\n

Well, first the diocese sent me here.\u00a0 I hope you think that is something good!\u00a0 They paid for my seminary education.\u00a0 I think that is something great.\u00a0 Locally, the CMA helps support our Catholic Charities office.\u00a0 It provides some support to campus ministry at Cornell and Ithaca and Catholic Schools.\u00a0 They provide administrative support which is especially helpful right now with both our Finance Director (Mark Jasinski) and me being new.<\/p>\n

But we must also remember it isn\u2019t about what we get out of the CMA.\u00a0 The point is to help others.\u00a0 The point is to make a difference.\u00a0 That\u2019s our theme this year \u2013 Making a Difference Every Day!<\/p>\n

Here the video was shown in church – http:\/\/www.dor.org\/index.cfm\/stewardship\/annual-appeal\/<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure you noticed the video ended with words by Bishop Clark whose retirement just became official.\u00a0 While he is no longer our bishop, the diocese continues to minister and so the CMA continues.<\/p>\n

Now, I would like to take a moment about what it will take for us to meet our CMA goal.\u00a0 Last year, 343 households contributed $44,544 towards a goal just over $50,000.\u00a0 This year\u2019s goal is up for inflation and because we are doing better than some other parishes in attendance.\u00a0 Our goal for this year is $52,225.<\/p>\n

So we need to raise about $7,600 more than last year.\u00a0 That might sound like a lot but I believe we can do it.\u00a0 In the two previous parishes where I have worked on the CMA, we increased the contributions to the CMA by a third in one year.\u00a0 That\u2019s 33% and we only need 17%.<\/p>\n

How do we do this?\u00a0 The obvious answer is that we need to contribute more money.\u00a0 I emphasis we because I will be making my own personal contribution soon.<\/p>\n

Of course, I ask that people who contributed last year, pray about how much to contribute this year, hopefully increasing the amount.\u00a0 But I know not everyone would be able to increase 17%.\u00a0 Some won\u2019t be able to increase at all.\u00a0 Some might not be able to contribute at all.\u00a0 I just ask that you do what you are called to in pray.<\/p>\n

But there is another way to increase our contributions.\u00a0 I said before that 343 households contributed last year.\u00a0 That\u2019s a participation rate of around 25%.\u00a0 The diocesan average is 32%.\u00a0 That would mean 73 more donors.\u00a0 That\u2019s a lot to ask.\u00a0 But if you didn\u2019t contribute last year, pray about it.\u00a0 Please pray about it.\u00a0 Every little bit helps.<\/p>\n

Lastly, I want to be upfront.\u00a0 In the coming months, the diocese will be asking for contributions towards our priest retirement fund and for the education of seminarians.\u00a0 We will also be asking at some point for contributions towards some building repairs here in our parish.<\/p>\n

For now, focus on the CMA.\u00a0 Remember, if you are thinking of saving your money for later, if we don\u2019t meet our CMA goal, the parish must make up the difference.\u00a0 So pray about it and contribute according to your means.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 James 3:16-4:3 Mark 9:30-37 September 23, 2012 The disciples of Jesus are discussing which of them is the greatest, not a good thing.\u00a0 It\u2019s pride and that would be a sin.\u00a0\u00a0 Worse yet, they\u2019re doing right after Jesus has been telling them about how he …<\/p>\n

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