He has empowered us

God empowers each of us through the beautiful sacraments of the Church and its caring ministry.  He empowers us through the talents and skills He has instilled in each of us as His loving creations. He empowers us through the thousands of blessings we receive throughout our lifetime from family, friends, teachers, mentors, neighbors, employers, and even strangers. He empowers us with different and varied graces.  But, with this empowerment comes an expectation.

In times of distress

This year’s appeal theme comes from Paul’s letter thanking the community at Philippi for being his “partners in grace” – both in hardships and in the confirmation of the Gospel.  We, like the Philippians, have also been partners in Grace this past year sharing each other’s hardships while living out the Gospel. Your gifts empowered Catholic Charities to reach out to the distressed and devastated as they dealt with the hardships of Harvey.  Your gifts empowered our Hispanic, African American, Criminal Justice, and Family Life to serve despite Harvey’s ravaging flood waters.

Strengthened for Everything

Some of our people have faced serious loss because of the storm. So, those of us who have been spared are being called to do more – to give even more generously.  And if you have never given before, we hope you will see how much your gift is needed this year.  It will help our ministries – like those to the sick, to the grieving, to the vulnerable – continue and grow stronger as they serve more than 110,000 individuals.  God strengthens us for everything, but often he does it through the kindness of others.

Sharing the empowerment

Our Lord expects us, as good Stewards, to share these gifts and blessings. Never were they meant to be kept for ourselves alone.  Instead they were meant to be shared with those in need of God’s many and varied graces. Join with your diocesan ministries and Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas as they empower others through their works. See your blessings increase as new aspirants enter the diaconate and then go on to serve in our communities.  Watch as your gifts to the 2018 Bishop’s Faith Appeal help Youth Ministry and Campus Ministry keep our young people grounded in their faith and practicing it long after they leave home.

Will you be kind enough to share? 

Ministries that you are helping

The Appeal- Intercessions/Petitions

Throughout the course of the Bishop’s Faith Appeal, please use at least one of the following petitions each weekend. Please make these available now to your liturgists and lectors.

Bulletin & Pulpit Announcements

EDUCATION WEEKEND – January 27-28

Next weekend, we will be asked to make a commitment to support our diocesan ministries and Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas through our prayers and our financial gifts.  We do this each year through our Bishop’s Faith Appeal.  This year’s theme is “I have the strength for everything through him whom empowers me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.” It is taken from Philippians 4:13-14. Imagine a community where none are in distress – where no one goes hungry, where all feel welcomed, where those who mourn are comforted and where those who are lost learn of the healing love of Jesus.  All of this can come from sharing in their distress through each of us as we share our gifts. Know that our diocesan ministries are already doing much to bring about such a community through their work.  And if you and I join them through our support, they can do much more.  Please take the time this week to learn about their work by reading the Appeal materials that are being provided to you today and by reading the latest edition of our East Texas Catholic Newspaper. If our parish exceeds its goal, the overage is returned to the parish. We have decided that the average funds this year will be used to _______________________ in our parish .

COMMITMENT WEEKEND – February 3-4

Today is the day that Bishop Guillory and our parish ask(ed) for your support for 2018 Bishop’s Faith Appeal. Our theme this year – I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress – is a reminder that we are strengthened to share in others’ distress here in Southeast Texas  and to the larger community by supporting diocesan ministries and Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas by making a prayer and financial commitment today.  Those ministries help to feed the hungry through our own Hospitality Center in Port Arthur. They support marriages through our Family Life Ministry’s many retreats. And they evangelize to the young through Diocesan Youth Ministry and Campus Ministry at Lamar. That’s just a small part of what they do to build an empowered community that extends help.  Remember, God asks that your gift only be proportional to what you have been given. Your BFA parish team and Father (Msgr.) have already made their pledges. Please make your prayer and financial commitment this week.

FOLLOW -UP WEEKEND – February 10-11

If you have not made your gift to the Bishop’s Faith Appeal, please prayerfully consider doing so. Our hospitality ministers are again passing out the Pew-Pledge Envelopes and the Spiritual Pledge/Intention Cards. They are also passing out our Pew Art Cards, so our little ones can draw a prayer pledge for our ministries. The Appeal continues to be necessary because many needs in our diocese cannot be effectively met by the individual Christian or by our local parish alone. Currently, our diocesan ministries are facing increased requests for their work. They need your help to respond to these requests. We thank everyone who has pledged to the 2018 Appeal. If you have not made a pledge, we ask you to pray to the Holy Spirit as you consider your blessings. Then we ask you to make a proportional and intentional gift of your treasure and your prayer time to the appeal based on your current circumstances this year. We understand many of you have seen a change in your circumstances. Know our prayers are with you. We ask you to share what you can. Think about this: if you have not suffered from hunger, you are better off than many U.S. citizens who live in deep poverty. Some of them are your neighbors here in Southeast Texas. We ask that you make a pledge to the appeal, as an expression of your gratitude for your many blessings.

2nd FOLLOW-UP WEEKEND – February 17-18

On behalf of Bishop Guillory and the more than 110,000 individuals who are served by our diocesan ministries, I thank all those who have pledged to this year’s Bishop’s Faith Appeal. If you have not made a financial and prayer pledge, we ask you to prayerfully consider doing so. Pledge envelopes and Spiritual Pledge/Intention cards are available in the pews.

 3rd FOLLOW-UP WEEKEND – February 24-25

Contact Information

Physical Address
710 Archie Street
Beaumont, TX 77701
Telephone: (409) 924-4300