Encountering Christ

We encounter Him in the Sacrament, in prayer, in serving one another, and even in our giving. This Fall, join parish families as together we pray about the works of the parish and how the gifts we share can support its mission and ministries so that others may continue encountering Christ too.

What is the program? A simple way to reflect upon our own giving efforts and discern how we would like to respond as disciples by sharing gifts - just as we do serving and worshiping.

Read Father's letter & brochure sent to families

How will it work?

Families will receive a commitment card to return to the parish to note how they wish to share their gifts.
Reminder letters will go to households to continue to invite families to participate.
Parishioners will share about ministry at Masses the weekend of the kick off and a little later in the Fall.
A look at the overall parish effort to support our faith community will be shared.

What is a commitment card? It's not a pledge card. It's more like writing down a goal and working to fulfill it. A commitment card is a way a family or individual can write down how they would like to share their gifts with their parish for 12 months. It is a way for a family to try and make a conscious giving effort or to even seek helpful tools to give regularly, such as the online giving service.

Why should I return a card? Returning a card helps show that families are traveling this journey together and praying to commit to support their parish community. Each card returned represents another family desiring to grow together and share, through love and thanksgiving, what God has blessed them with.

What happens to the cards? Commitments will not be recorded in the parish database for each family. The individual cards will simply be counted to reflect and report on: how many families participated in the program and what our faith community's overall effort (of everyone's commitment) can look like for our parish. A summary showing this overall parish effort will be shared so families can see.

What if I am not able to increase my gift at this time, or I recently did? Each family's card offers a place to write down and commit to increasing their current gifts. Please still return a card even if you have discerned that you cannot increase a gift or if you have already recently increased your gift. Each commitment will be different, but what's important is that all families strive to return their card as a way to say they support their parish and its ministry while traveling this journey with all St. Alphonsus families.

Why have a program on giving? It's good to keep that open communication with God as we live our faith, walk our spiritual journey, and love and serve as He intends. Therefore, it's good to stop and pray about how we are going about these things, and and that we're thanking and asking God to guide us.

Making an effort to share our gifts is a way to praise God and give Him back what we have received. It is also a way of walking a spiritual journey and responding to the call to be a disciple. By giving, we are making an offering and trusting God to bless it abundantly for others.

The parish has more than 60 active ministries. We are serving many people whether it's through a food drive or teaching the faith. We are also growing. There are more who we can serve, and more ways that we can all grow and encounter Christ.