Florida Catholic | Sharing the Vision

Sharing the Vision - Growing the Faith

Parishes embark upon diocese's new capital campaign.

PEGGY DEKEYSER | FLORIDA CATHOLIC PENSACOLA - TALLAHASSEE BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 09.14.07

Bishop Ricards speaks at the Sacred Heart Cathedral about the diocese's new capital campaign.

Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, talks with parishioners at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart during a Sept. 5 reception marking the kickoff for the Sharing the Vision — Growing in Faith capital campaign.
PEGGY DEKEYSER | FC

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PENSACOLA | The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart here and St. Rose of Lima Parish in Milton have begun a journey to the future. The parishes, two of six pilot parishes for the diocese’s Sharing the Vision — Growing in Faith capital campaign, held receptions to introduce the campaign goals to parishioners. The reception at St. Rose was the evening of Sept. 4; the cathedral reception was the following night.

At each reception, parishioners viewed a longer version of the video they had seen at Mass a week before. In the video, numerous people from across the diocese gave witness to the role that faith and the church have played in their lives.

One talked of how "God picked me up, dusted me off and gave me hope again," turning a life around. Others talked of seeing children and youths continuing to embrace and live out the faith they caught early on from parents, parish religious education programs and Catholic schools. All alluded to the need to continue to provide the foundation of church and faith for future generations; to continue to make a difference in the lives not only of the faithful, but of the whole community of northwest Florida and the Big Bend.

Father Dennis O’Brien, pastor of St. Rose Parish, spoke with parishioners, explaining his hopes for the parish’s participation in the capital campaign. Msgr. Michael Reed, rector at the cathedral, did the same. Both men pledged their support for the campaign, and publicly announced the sacrificial gifts they are individually making. Msgr. Reed reminded those at the cathedral reception of the parable of the "widow’s mite," and encouraged them to give as generously as she did.

Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, also attended both receptions and recalled the lessons of history in building up the church. He told the people of St. Rose how "David, with his young son Solomon at his side, as well as the leaders of the tribes of Israel, had assembled all the materials needed for the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. As they stood before all these building materials he said a prayer of thanksgiving to God for giving him and the people the opportunity of participating in this historic event. He acknowledged that in contributing all this material for the construction of the temple, they were only giving back to God what he had given to them. ‘For all that we have comes from you, and we are only giving back to you what is yours already.’"The bishop asked the parish to approach the campaign in that same spirit.

Bishop Ricard retold the stories of how St. Paul, in his earliest travels and zeal to spread the Good News, relied upon the kindness of others to provide for his mission and ministry. "In his letter to Philemon, Paul pleads for the continuing ministry of the slave, Onesimus, for he has become ‘useful indeed both to you and to me.’ In many instances, Paul asks his benefactors to continue to endow his ministry, so that the Gospel and the church might spread through the world," he said.

At the cathedral, Bishop Ricard related the story of the early history of Catholicism in what is now the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Belonging along the way to various dioceses and archdioceses, "the separate diocese that was formed out of the 18 northwestern counties of Florida 32 years ago has been built upon the generosity and kindness of those who have gone before, those who established a legacy of faith here, a legacy that is now passed on to us to preserve and grow for future generations and for an expanding Catholic population," he said.

Parishioners took away packets of information about the campaign, including commitment cards, following a question and answer period at each reception. Included in the information was a list of frequently asked questions and answers (see below).

John Adams, who is serving on the campaign team at the cathedral, said it is his hope that more new people will become involved in all that happens at the parish. "I’ve only been a member here for two years, and I see this as a means to get more people, especially people who may not have been involved before, to take an active role in the parish and its many ministries and activities."

Tish Oleksy, also a cathedral team member, said that to her, the campaign is about providing for the future of the church, especially for its children and youths. "I want to be sure that the church is here, strong and viable, for future generations. To do that, we’ve got to provide programs and services to the young people of today, to pass on what has been given to us in faith," she said.

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Sharing the Vision - Growing the Faith

Parishes embark upon diocese's new capital campaign.

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