Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
During the Diocesan synodal listening process from October through June, concern for the poor was listed as something that breaks the hearts of many people. Our Christian discipleship challenges us to respond in some way to the pain and suffering that is so prevalent in our world.
The recently initiated, multi-year Eucharistic Revival speaks directly to how in the Eucharist, Jesus gives us his body and blood to draw us more deeply into his faith, hope and love. In love, living the Eucharist takes us beyond the walls of the church building. Nourished by Word and Sacrament, we can then attend to the Church’s fundamental responsibility to the poor and marginalized as Pope Francis has so often reminded us: “[O]ur work with [persons] in need, our charitable works of mercy, lead us to the Lord, because it is in the needy brother and sister that we see the Lord himself.”
The Diocesan Works of Charity collection is one way that we, as the local Church, can respond to those in immediate need. In consultation with local parishes, the funds collected are distributed to communities whose members are struggling to simply meet the basic needs of food and shelter for themselves and their families.
Recently, funds were used to:
• help tenants in an apartment building at risk of immediate eviction
• provide coats to people experiencing homelessness during the coldest part of the winter
• fund a youth ministry group undertaking mobile home repairs for families living and working in poverty.
This special collection to assist with charitable needs in the Diocese of Davenport will take place at Mass on the weekend of July 23-24. I pray that we are inspired by the Holy Spirit to help those in great need. Thank you for sharing the Lord’s love by giving generously to this collection.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bishop Thomas Zinkula
Bishop of Davenport
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