The Lenten journey is similar to a tripod. It rests on three legs: prayer, fasting, and acts of charity. These three are, as we heard on Ash Wednesday part of a communal event. We are called as a universal Church to make this forty-day journey together as a community of faith.
As part of our alms giving or acts of charity we as a Catholic Community walk with the 97 other parishes in the Diocese of Worcester to support the charitable, ministry and educational works of our Diocese through the Annual Partners in Charity Appeal. I am so pleased that each year we have worked together to achieve our goal, which again is $43,200.00; our share of the $5,000.000.00 needed to serve the needs of the faithful of our diocese in the year ahead.
Sometimes we lose sight of how our parish is served through Partners in Charity. We have invited Mr. Timothy Messanger, the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, for our diocese to speak to us regarding his ministry in our diocese, and how it impacts our Catholic Community. He will be speaking with us at all the Masses next weekend of March 3-4.
As a parish, we recognize the need to work more with our youth (grades 7-12) and young adults (18-35 year olds) in inviting them to feel welcome in our faith community and supporting them in growing in living their faith among us. This an area which our Pastoral Planning Team is seeking to enhance and invest time, energy and funding to grow faith among our younger members. Tim Messenger is assisting us in exploring and expanding our efforts in this area of ministry. This is one of the many ways we benefit from our willingness to walk together with the other parish communities of the diocese to support the ministries, charities and education of Partners in Charity. Another prime example is Bishop McManus assigning Tom Tierney, our Deacon in Training and hopefully our parish Deacon after ordination; to our parish. Again, we benefit directly from Partners in Charity.
Yes, Lent rests on the three legs of prayer, fasting and charity. We are very good stewards in taking care of the needs of our expenses and ministries of our own Catholic Community of Sacred Heart. We have continually supported our Annual Partners in Charity Appeal. I am hoping more will join in helping us reach our goal by understanding the important work that goes on throughout our diocese and how working together can assist us in growing our Catholic Community in Worcester County.