In your next envelope mailing you will notice an envelop for the CSA (Catholic Services Appeal). Thanks to all who have already contributed to this year's appeal. Together as a parish we have already pledged or donated $33,000.00 This envelop is for those who are still waiting to support the CSA, about 300 households/families. A modest donation of $35.00 from each of you would bring us close to the $7,200.00 that our parish has been asked to give to the CSA. Again, f you have already made your donation, you need not worry about this once-a-year envelop.
Earlier this month, Pope Francis announced a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The Greek Orthodox Church has already made such a day part of the yearly cycle of prayer. Now the Roman Catholic Church is joining them on September 1 of every year to pray on behalf of the world that carries our human life. Pope Francis says: "The annual World Day of prayer for the Care of Creation offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvelous works that He has entrusted to our care, invoking his help for the protection of creation and his mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live." The first of these days of prayer occurs this coming Tuesday.
We Franciscans are happy to encourage you to make this day special in some way. I always notice the frequent signs over our local bridges indicating the Rouge River or one of many branches, and the slogan, "Ours to protect." On September 1 we pray that this admonition be broadened to include the entire world.