I hear you, far too often when I mention the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal (AAA) I get a glazed look from the person to whom I am speaking. Sometimes I imagine a “bubble” over them proclaiming: “Here we go again, money, money, and money.” And yes, the Catholic Church does ask for money. Yes, the Catholic Church does extend itself into the culture with a wide-ranging helping hand. Guilty as charge!

But I am not apologizing—period. “Why?” Because Christ asked us, rather He commanded us to “Love one another…” and then He showed us by example of “How” to act: in discipleship we are commanded to feed the hungry and house the homeless through parish ministries and homeless shelters, in programs that not only feed the hungry a meal but works with them to help feed themselves; in caring for the sick and vulnerable, the Catholic Church builds and maintains hospitals like St. Francis Medical Center and St. Mary’s as well as in various mission-oriented ministries like the Knights of Malta Mobile House of Care; and in reaching out to the institutional poor or those devastated by natural disasters, the Church has created Catholic Charites, the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Relief Services and untold numbers of Religious Orders around the world teaching, healing and caring. The Roman Catholic Church, because of programs such as the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, is the largest global humanitarian organization in the world. No other faith, no other government, no other NGO does as much with such little overhead as the Catholic Church. And that should be a badge of honor, not an indifferent comment.

“What?” The AAA collects money each year from parishioners and non-Catholics alike who recognize and respect—and then become part of—a great organization that provides so much good to folks in need. In the Archdiocese of Hartford (AOH) we normally raise some $10 million a year to feed, house, clothe, heal and teach—making lives better—right here locally. As Archbishop Blair says, the AAA collects money and sends it out in the same year to help those in need: “It is a bread-and-butter” operation. When we forget to give or maybe even chose not to give, if we are “angry at the Church,” the only ones who suffer are the poorest of the poor. This year (2019) the AAA is running behind its target goal of $10 million. We are currently at approximately $8.6 million. Who knows the reasons why but the only ones who are missing out are the children, families, single moms and elderly poor who might not be served.

If you just haven’t given yet this year simply because you have a lot on your mind, I hope you will do so now. If you gave last year but for some reason, perhaps anger, you are holding back, I hope you will pray over this and reconsider. Our faith isn’t just about “hitting a goal each year” or “looking good in the public eye,” it is about being the image and likeness of God; it is about being the heart, hands and continued mission and ministry of Christ in our modern world. May God continue to bless us and all His children through our untied Discipleship. Peace!