CSA 2021

2021 CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL 
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

As of 3/29/2021, we have 198 pledge cards returned totaling $74,480.00.  The amount of paid pledges is $53,580.00.  Thank you to our parishioners who have already participated in spreading their love of neighbor.
 
Our goal is $94,554 .  Our number of parish households is 615.  Please prayerfully consider your almsgiving to assist with the Catholic Services Appeal.  Come together and make a difference through the CSA annual collection...Give online at http://saintliz.aodcsa.org/ 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,  
 
We are engaged in a struggle not only against Covid-19, but also a struggle against the negative forces who want to deprive us the healthy impact of the Holy Spirit—In our hearts and minds. The forces arrayed against us are agnosticism, atheism, religious indifference, anti-Catholic/anti-Christian movements, plus our ancient enemy - sin. These forces are opposing the good and holy work God is accomplishing.  What is there for us to do? The answer is — come together and make a difference.
 
There is strength in numbers; Jesus assures us, “For where there are two or three who come together in my name, I am there with them.” (Mt. 18:20) In our gatherings for worship and prayer, Christ is powerfully present. In our many ministries we give a living witness that Christ has not abandoned the faithful.  But how are we to reach the great number of suffering families and individuals?
 
Our answer is through the CSA; through this annual collection our faith touches thousands of people who we could not possibly serve personally. Our sharing assists those who experience the indifference of the world; they will know there are people who care and who involve themselves with works of mercy. The CSA is not just programs, it is people reaching out to people; the Gospel comes alive by means of our support of the CSA.
 
Brothers and Sisters, in the past we have made a positive impact on people we will never meet; but they will meet us and encounter our faith in the Gospels through our CSA donations. In the past several years we have surpassed our target and received 100% of our overage back to use for special projects. This money has returned to us tax free. These funds are set aside to meet future needs like repairs to the heating and cooling system, or other major repairs. 
 
Why are we starting CSA in Lent? We start now because the spiritual heart of Lent is ‘prayer, fasting, and almsgiving’. Let’s make our monetary contributions a spiritual gift, true almsgiving, a gift dedicated to the love and mercy of God. What better way to share our abundance than to support the growth of faith in our Roman Catholic Church through our giving of alms for the benefit of the faithful of our Archdiocese and our outreach to those who are un-churched or whose faith lies dormant. Let’s show our love of God, by showing our love of neighbor in Southeast Michigan.

Fr. Norm

It has been said that feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. How close are we to Christ, and the gratitude we express for all His blessings are measured by our giving. 
Giving comes from understanding who God is, who we are, and what Jesus Christ is all about, and from a clearer, deeper commitment to live for Him and take part in His mission on earth.

CSA is an opportunity for us to participate in the ministry of the work of the Archdiocese of Detroit. If we fulfill our goal, any amounts collected in excess of our goal come back to the parish 100%.  Any amounts we fail to collect through this campaign must be paid out of our normal  income collected through the offertory.  We, as a parish must do our fair share of the work in the diocese.  The 2021 Goal listed above is similar to the goal as we were asked to achieve in 2019.  The 2020 goal was reduced 15% due to Covid 19.
Please consider making a sacrificial pledge so that we can  work together as a parish to achieve our goal in helping to spread the gospel in Southeastern Michigan.

Consider the price of a bottle of water, a cup of coffee, a candy bar or the price of one spin at the Casino. How often do we spend a dollar here or there for insignificant items? Yet many of us do not, but could set aside a dollar a day for CSA and help provide for needed ministries.
Could you give $1 a day for…..

A seminarian’s education?
The pastoral care of priests?
To advocate for the protection of life?
To provide televised Mass for shut-ins?
To promote vocations?
To fund discernment weekends for priest candidates?
Programs to train our Catechists?
To support Catholic Charities?
To support the Parish Nurse program?
To support Youth and Young Adult Ministries?
To provide safe environments for our children?
To provide formation for our liturgical ministers?
To assist and provide direction for Catholic Schools?

Out of the $15 million CSA received, our CSA contributions last year from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton assisted the common good through:

$17,800 in Mission Grants.
$13,050 for Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Lay Ministry Programs.
$13,900 of programming for Vocations, Clergy and Seminarians.
$11,375  to Youth and Minority ministries and Evangelization efforts.
$11,425 for Parish Life and Christian Service programs.
$4,900 for Christian Stewardship and Development programs.
$5,750 to Communications efforts in the Archdiocese, including CTND network, DetroitCatholic.com news site, and Evangelization programs.
$3,031 to the Tribunal to provide free annulment services to those seeking to marry within the Catholic church.

Contributions in excess of our target are returned to SEAS assessment free to be used for capital repairs and necessary projects.

Come together and make a difference through the CSA annual collection...Give online at http://saintliz.aodcsa.org/