Denver Catholic

8 APRIL 18-24, 2015 | DENVER CATHOLIC T he annual Archbishop's Catholic Appeal is currently under way. The ACA helps fund nearly 40 archdioc- esan ministries ranging from protecting life within the womb to serving senior citizens. Father Randy Dollins, V.G., mod- erator of the curia, spoke to the Denver Catholic last week about the appeal and tithing, a biblical term that means "a tenth part" and refers to the portion of personal income voluntarily given to the Church and charities as an oŸ ering to God. Q: Why is it important to tithe? A: Everything we have is a gift from God. So we're called to share what's been given to us, especially when we know there are needs or situations that we can answer. Q: There is an anonymous quote on tithing you like: "The purpose of tith- ing is to secure not the tithe but the tither, not the gift but the giver, not the possession but the possessor, not your money but you for God." What about the quote resonates with you? A: The general idea behind tithing is that we feel there's a need we have to give to, but the reality is we actually have a need to give because that is the nature of love and generosity. Some- times people put the focus of tithing on securing the money, but tithing is really about securing us in our relationship with God and with those we are giving to (our neighbor). Q: How does the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal fi t in with tithing ? A: Sometimes it's hard for us when we give to one specifi c charity and then are appealed to by various other charities. We feel how can I give to so many di• er- ent needs? The Archbishop's Catholic Appeal addresses a multitude of crucial needs that exist in the archdiocese. You can help a whole bunch of them with one donation. Q: "Disciples take risks for the kingdom" is this year's ACA theme. How does one "risk for the kingdom" with tithing ? A: A lot of times we give out of our excess, which is safe. But tithing is really about making room in our budgets for a sacrifi cial gift. The ACA theme is urging people to ask is this coming out of my excess or am I going to have to sacrifi ce something to tithe at this level? It's risky because we think, will I have enough money to pay for my bills and for my desires? Disciples are willing to take a risk in the way that they commit to charity (to love). Q: What does the ACA mean to the life of the Church in northern Colorado? A: It's absolutely vital. When we say it helps fund nearly 40 ministries, really, without the ACA many of these minis- tries would not exist. It is the lifeblood of the ministerial work of the archdiocese. Q: Who is helped by the appeal? A: Archbishop Samuel Aquila's ACA video focuses on the seminaries, Catholic schools, home- less shelters, Catholic Charities and Hispanic ministry, some of the bigger ministries the appeal helps support. But at the end of the day, it ends up aŸ ecting a person in need in thousands of instances. Maybe one dollar of your donation will go to a counseling session (someone benefi ts from), but as the body of Christ (through the ACA) we all pulled together to make that possible and we are all participating in the corporal works of mercy together. Around the Archdiocese BY ROXANNE KING 720-771-3394 editor_king@icloud.com www.twitter.com/RoxanneIKing The nature of LOVE is GIVING 1.1 million nights of shelter provided last year through Catholic Charities 30,000 people a year get social services or faith formation at Centro San Juan Diego 100-plus babies saved since 2013 by Lighthouse Women's Center 10,000 young people are being educated at 37 Catholic schools Q&A with FATHER RANDY DOLLINS DONATIONS Online: www.archden.org/donate Mail: Archbishop's Catholic Appeal, P.O. Box 100316, Denver, CO 80250-0316 Stewardship program challenges status quo P arishes with high Hispanic populations are converting hearts for successful stewardship in the Archdiocese of Denver. The feat could bode well for the overall U.S. Church. Hispanics have accounted for 71 percent of the growth of the Catholic population in the United States since 1960 and con- stitute about 40 percent of the nation's 78 million Catholics, according to a 2014 report by Boston College. Unfortunately, the study, "Hispanic Ministry in Catholic Parishes," also shows that parishes with large Hispanic populations tend to struggle fi nancially and have fewer resources. Luis Soto, executive director for Hispanic ministry and its center for pastoral and family resources, Centro San Juan Diego, is challenging the status quo with a stewardship program experiencing dramatic success. The results are so encouraging Soto has presented it to other dioceses. "It's amazing," Soto said about the transformations the local program, established in 2005, has produced in fi nancially poor parishes. Within one year of participating in the program, parishes report growing the number of people involved in service and gaining a 70 percent to 100 percent increase in oŸ ertory collections. "When I implement this program, it is for the entire parish, not just for the His- panic parishioners," Soto said, explaining that the key point he emphasizes among the faithful is their shared identity as Catholic Christians. "Our fi rst and most important identity is that we are children of God," he said, "not that we are Hispanic or non-Hispanic." He also addresses the human inclination to blame "the other." "Both sides tend to think the other side needs to be giving more—that's negative," Soto said. "This is our church and each group needs to embrace that (responsibility)—every single person needs to embrace that." The stewardship program includes catechesis, personal wit- ness, prayer and commitment. Central to it is highlighting that stewardship, traditionally seen as a sharing of time, talent and treasure, is founded on gratitude and faith. The Scriptural prac- tice of tithing is simply giving back to God what came from him, Soto said. "God sees us as his sons and daughters worthy of his trust to be good stewards of the resources he's given us," Soto said. "Our response should be one of a grateful heart. (Tithing) says thank you Lord for the blessings you give to me every day." Hispanic ministry is one of some 40 ministries support- ed by the Arch- bishop's Catholic Appeal. PHOTO BY CARMEN VILLA/ EL PUEBLO CATOLICO The Arch- bishop's Catholic Appeal addresses a multi- tude of crucial needs that exist in the archdio- cese. You can help a whole bunch of them with one dona- tion." FATHER RANDY DOLLINS "

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