Today is "Commitment Sunday" regarding the Annual "Together in Mission" Campaign.      Today we are asked to put our faith into action.     Today we are asked to stand in solidarity with our Archbishop, with our priests and religious, and with the lay leaders of our Archdiocese, especially with those who serve in the poorest of parishes in our Archdiocese.     We cannot ignore the needs of our poorest sisters and brothers.     Rather, we need to stand in fullest, and in most heartfelt genuine, support with our poorest brothers and sisters in their needs.

"Together in Mission" truly does help our poorest parish communities.    Every penny raised goes to help them meet their needs.     Not one penny goes to the Archdiocese, nor to the Cathedral project!     Not one cent!    Rather, every penny goes to help our poorest sisters and brothers.       

However, since the "Together in Mission" program began, its goal has been to only raise a set amount each year.     The amount has not gone up with inflation.    Thus, the money available to our poorest parishes remains constant, while their bills go up.    The help then becomes in reality less and less each year.    This is resulting in our poorest parishes have "real needs" being unmet.     It is estimated, that it would take over $77,000,000.00 as of today to repair and retrofit all the poorest parishes, just to bring them up to par.     For instance, as we heard last year, since the Northridge Quake the people of St. Patrick's parish in Los Angeles have been gathering week after week in a tent as their parish church was destroyed and they cannot raise sufficient funds to rebuild.    Now the City of Los Angeles has given them orders to vacate that tent as soon as possible because of the fire and earthquake dangers.     Thanks to this wonderful community of St. Jude's, we gave them $25,000.00 over and above what we committed to our Sister Parish last year.     But they still need a million to rebuild and finally have a church for their weddings and funerals and special occasions, let alone for their Sunday Eucharists.     Other poor communities, like our Sister Parish, cannot afford new roofs needed, nor even to turn-on the heat in their church.      When Father Bill went there last year on Commitment Sunday, he only had a thin bed sheet hanging over the confessional entrance for privacy.    And, although it was raining and cold, they could not afford to turn the heat on.

As we prepare to make our Pledge Commitment today, each of us is asked to prayerfully consider giving a little more.       We need to come to have a real awareness of the burdens and the genuine needs that exist within our poorest parishes today.     We need to believe that "every penny" we donate, will truly be used for our Sister Parish, Holy Spirit in Los Angeles, and the poorest of parishes.      We need to trust those 20 Pastors of our Archdiocese who lead and direct this Campaign.     We need to understand that our Baptismal Calling encourages us, in fact urges us, to share generously with those who are less fortunate.      Let us dig deeply this year and try our very best to help this most worthwhile project, "Together in Mission"!