BLA Appeal: Hope in Action

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Due to the snowstorm last week, many of you did not have the opportunity to hear our parishioner Molly Klote’s witness regarding the importance of all our parish families supporting the Bishop Lent Appeal (BLA). Therefore, I think it’s appropriate to publish her remarks.

Sincerely,

Father Killian

Good morning. My name is Molly Klote, and for 18 years, Our Lady of Hope has been my family’s parish. I raised my children here, sent them to school here, and, to this day, enjoy the friendship of so many in this parish family. Every time I walk into this sanctuary, I am struck by how truly fortunate we are. We worship in a beautiful church in a safe, peaceful neighborhood, and we belong to a community that cares for one another.

Fr Killian asked me to talk to everyone today about the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal and why I support it. Just as background, the BLA supports diverse missions across our Diocese. And any money donated is restricted to use only for these programs. If you are a registered parishioner, an information and pledging letter was sent to your home last week. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to review the pamphlet listing the programs this week. I promise you, there is a program in those pages that will touch your heart—if it the program or service hasn’t already touched your life and you’ve seen the benefit.

The ways I have benefited from the BLA:

1. Support for catholic schools both elementary and high school, from which my three children benefited.

2. Anyone who knows me knows that I have served as the medical director for the Diocese youth ministry program Workcamp for the past 9 years, the BLA supports workcamp which is so transformative in the lives of the kids who attend and everyone who volunteers.

3. Support for Catholic campus ministry, which was a critical part of my son Andrew’s experience at George Mason University.

4. But we all benefit from the BLA’s support of the seminarians being trained today, 3 from our own parish; they are the future priests who will celebrate the Sacraments at this very altar for our children and grandchildren.

5. And of course Catholic Charities that serves the least fortunate in our diocese with food and clothing. The BLA is how we carry our faith beyond our parish boundary.

So here is the tough news. Over the past few years, our parish’s participation in the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal has remained stagnant, and the percentage of our families contributing has actually decreased. This year, the Diocese assigned us a target of $313,000, but Father Killian has set an even more important goal: 100% participation from our parish families. Last year, our participation was 35%. Thank you to everyone who gave.

Because I believe in this mission, my family made our pledge the very day my packet arrived in the mail. I want to invite you to join me in that commitment. I am asking you to sit down this week, after you finish shoveling whether as a single person, a household, married couple, empty nesters, parents with children, and bring the decision to support the BLA it into your prayer life. Ask the Lord: “What am I or are we called to share?” When the decision is prayerfully considered it stops being a transaction and becomes a beautiful offering. For those with children, it teaches them that being a member of this parish means we share the responsibility for our wider Catholic family and community.

If every single family here gives something after prayerful consideration, that $313,000 target will take care of itself. 100% participation tells the Diocese that the people of Our Lady of Hope are fully invested in the future of our Church.

The theme of this year’s BLA is In Christ we Are One, let’s make that one, one hundred percent participation. If you haven’t given in a few years, or if you’ve never given at all to the BLA, I’m asking you to break that cycle and join me. Let’s show the Diocese that for us, Hope isn’t just in our name—it is the gift that is given to those who benefit from our collective generosity.

Thank you for your time, and for your prayerful generosity.

God bless you