This article was originally published on Fri, 03 Feb 2023

Super Bowl Sunday is next weekend. Although the 49ers did not make it, I am sure most of us are excited to watch the game.  There is something about football that somehow makes the nation “stop.” Besides Super Bowl Sunday is known to be an unofficial American holiday, with viewing parties held in homes, taverns, and restaurants throughout the country. I often wondered why.  Is it because of the halftime show?  Maybe! But I think it is more about our eagerness to know how each team will work together to win the game.  We are excited to know about their strategy and how they will support each other.  One thing is for sure, whoever the champion is, it is all about the team I believe we can learn so much from football, especially how we function as members of the Church.  Like football, we need each member of the community to ensure the success of our mission.  As St. Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Corinthians, For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” As we launch our 2023 Annual Diocesan Appeal, we are called to remember St. Paul’s teaching about how we function as Church and how each member works within the team.  This year’s ADA theme is: “Supporting our Mission Together.”  The operative word is TOGETHER.   We are asked to collaborate with each other.  The work of the Church is the responsibility of all her members.  And our mission is to proclaim the truth of the Gospel with compassion, beauty, and love. For many years we have been successful in reaching our diocesan goal because of the participation of many.  I am hoping for that same commitment and invite those who have not participated to prayerfully consider “teaming up” with us this year.  Our goal is the same as last year, $300,000.  I believe we can easily reach and even surpass our goal if we all say yes - ALL participating with a pledge of $350.00 or more.  Keep in mind that every dollar raised and collected over our goal is rebated back 100% to the parish. Like the Super Bowl champions who work together for the success of their team, we, too, can do the same.  We are not 49ers, Eagles, Chiefs or Bengals.  Rather, we are members of the Holy Spirit Parish team with a mission- that is to know HIM, love HIM, and serve Him in everyone we encounter!  The Parish needs you.  The Lord invites you to be part of the team.  Together in Christ, we can score a touchdown!

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