More than $19.4 million pledged
Parishioners and pastors working together
With the capital campaign in full swing, the Diocese of Beaumont is well on its way to reaching the $25 million goal for Together for God’s Good Work, with more than $19.4 million pledged as of May 12 .
Three parishes have gone over their targets in pledges with four edging close.
The first block of 17 parishes, who held commitment weekends in March, are strongly into follow up now with the rest of the parishes into the “pew commitment phase.”
St. Peter the Apostle, Groves, was in the first block of parishes. Parishioner pledges are very near to the parish’s target.
Msgr. Kenneth Greig, pastor, said that there were no exceptionally large pledges at St. Peter, that it was all done on the grassroots level. He credited the success to the number of people who have responded. Msgr. Greig expressed gratitude to those parishioners adding that he was looking forward to more people responding.
Co-chairs Quincy Faulk and Philip Chauvin worked with the parish campaign committee to get the information out to the parish and articulate the vital needs being addressed by the funds.
“We worked to get out there and give them the facts and tell them exactly what the campaign is and try to dispel any rumors,” Chauvin said. “Being honest with folks and letting them know
truly what the money was going to be for, why we were doing the campaign and ask for their support.”
In his talk at the Masses at St. Peter one weekend, Chauvin said he challenged parishioners.
“The Gospel that weekend was when Jesus was tempted in the desert,” Chauvin said. “I threw out there at the end of my talk saying we’re all going to be like Jesus this weekend and be tempted not to participate in the campaign, but let’s be as strong as Jesus and resist the temptation of the devil and participate in the campaign.”
Msgr. Greig said that in terms of amounts the campaign is doable and affordable.
“I think a lot of people can plug into it if they just take the time to listen to what the campaign is all about,” he said. “An important part is that this is going to be there in the future in terms of the endowments that will be established.”
The capital campaign will fund endowments for Infirm Priests’ Fund, Catholic school scholarships, parish youth ministry, parish religious education and Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas.
At St. John the Evangelist, Father Sinclair Oubre thinks the parish is doing pretty well. It is not at its target yet, but is also edging very close.
He said Guidance in Giving, Inc., is very good in keeping him on task.
“They have been very helpful in this whole process,” Father Oubre said, adding that following their instructions has helped the parish get to where it is in the campaign.
St. John is another parish that is not receiving large pledges, but pledges in the range of $20 to $50 a month, Father Oubre said. He continued saying it looks like St. John will reach its target.
“A key element is the pastor’s leadership, an enthusiastic manner combined with a ‘this is part of being Catholic’ attitude,” he said. “We need to recognize that this is part of being a member of the Church in Southeast Texas and this becomes a shared responsibility.”
Father Oubre said he spoke emphatically that the projects being funded by the campaign are needed, and they are modest but significant and necessary projects for the Church of Southeast Texas.
These projects include construction at the Catholic Student Center at Lamar University, a Holy Family Retreat Center Development fund, the new Catholic Pastoral Center and parish projects. Four million dollars of the $25 million campaign goal is earmarked for parish projects with $2 million of the goal designated for the 2010 Bishop’s Faith Appeal to help fund operation costs for diocesan ministries and Catholic Charities.
Across Southeast Texas, to the other end of the diocese, Our Lady of the Pines is also nearing its campaign target.
Father Michael Strother, pastor, said he approached the campaign from the standpoint of faith.
“We walk by faith, not by sight,” he said.
“It takes prayer, it takes faith, it takes giving our total lives to God and the Church” he said to achieve anything in the parish.
One of the main reasons that Our Lady of the Pines is doing so well, Father Strother said, was because of the Stewardship that has been in place over the past several years.
He said that even though more than half the parish is retired and on set incomes, parishioners understand they are an important part of the Church.
“Parishioners realize they are called to give back to God,” he said. “We are made in the image and likeness of God, and we need to return to God from what we are given.”
Father Strother said even construction of buildings is done in the name of God.
“New construction is a great sign that the Holy Spirit is active and alive in the diocese and in my heart and the parishes,” he said.
And he emphasized that all are part of the same Catholic Church.
“We really are the Church of Rome and the Church of Beaumont. Without each, Our Lady of the Pines would not exist,” Father Strother said. “I realize I belong to something greater than myself.”
Father Strother summed up the parish like this:
“Our Lady of the Pines defines what a disciple truly is. They pick up the cross and they follow the Lord Jesus. They work hard for what they have. They sacrifice to give.”
Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, said he is very grateful to all those who have already made a sacrificial gift and to those who are working hard on the campaign. “I am asking our faithful to continue to pray for the campaign. I am also asking those who have not made a gift to please consider doing so.”
For more information on the campaign, see the diocesan website at www.dioceseofbmt.org. If you have not yet pledged, please contact your parish office.
