from Fr. Rich...

I am happy to report that last weekend (July 16-17), Sr.
Selvi's Annual Summer Mission Appeal talk was very well
received and over $2,000 was collected in the baskets
at church. (There will be a full accounting in the bulletin at the end of the month.) I join in admiration with all those who heard her talk of her own personal story, and the example of selfless service to our brothers and sisters in service to the Gospel she and her Catechetical Sisters of Our Lady of Good Health are doing in southern India. If you have not yet made a contribution to the Annual Summer Mission Appeal, you can always do so through GiveCentral (link at the bottom of this page), or by indicating your "Summer Mission Appeal" on your check or envelope. Thank you, as always, for your gift!

from Sr. Selvi....

I am Sr. Selvi Rayappan, a missionary sister from South India.  I was speaking at your church this weekend.  I truly thank each and every one of you for your warm welcome.

I was so honored to speak on behalf of my Catechectical Sisters of Arogyamatha (CSA) of Kadapa, in southern India.   Ours is a very young congregation  under the patronage of "Our Lady of  Good Health" and our main work is to evangelize the poor and to catechize the new baptized in remote rural villages.


We live in the interior villages where there is no electricity, no transportation and no safe drinking water.  Our area is very, very hot and dry during the summer and we walk many miles to do our ministry.  Every drop of water is precious.  Many times, one bucket of water, drawn from a village well, needs to last several days.  Last summer, when I was home visiting my mother, there was hardly any water to drink.  I asked her for water for a shower. She kept saying to me, " tomorrow."  Finally, I realized she was delaying me because she had to walk about 3 miles, carrying the water home on her head, which made it very difficult for her to breathe.  Here in America my showers are very precious as I always remember my experience at home.

We ask for your help to educate the orphan children ($30/month).  We also ask for your help to educate the sisters who work with them ($40/month).  Digging a well would also make a big impact ($2500).  (You can donate HERE using the Summer Mission Appeal Event.)

In whatever ways you could help, we greatly appreciate and humbly remember you and your family in our grateful prayers.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Rebuilding Our Home - Seeking 100% Participation

We are pleased to report that we have raised $2,058,056 for our Rebuilding Our Home Campaign through the generosity of 148 families.  This means we are more than two thirds of the way towards our goal of $3 million.  

In order to reach our goal we need 100% participation.  If you have not already done so, please consider making your pledge today.  Your pledge will make a difference. 

We are seeking your three year pledge which means committing to giving a set amount each year for the next three years e.g. a total pledge of $50,000 would mean an annual pledge of approximately $16,700 each year ($1,389/ month or $46.30/day) for three years. 

Don't forget the tax benefit of your pledge!  As an example a pledge of $50,000 equates to an after tax total pledge amount of $33,500 - $36,000 depending on your tax bracket.  The campaign gets the full amount of your pledge but you get the tax benefit, each year of your three year pledge.

With your support, we will reach our $3 million goal, but we need 100% participation.  If you haven't already discussed your pledge to Rebuilding Our Home, please consider doing so today and making your pledge in July. Let's keep the Pledge Thermometer rising and meet the $3 million goal!