Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Jesus is present in many ways in his Church. He is present in his Word and when two or more gather in his name. He is present in the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned. But he is most powerfully present in the Eucharist.

What a gift and immeasurable blessing it is that the God of the Universe would allow us to receive him and partake in the sacred mystery of communion with him! When we receive the Eucharist, we are truly united with Christ. And as we enter into this communion, we are also sent into the world to share Good News, the Gospel message, with those we encounter.

The theme for this year’s Catholic Services Appeal is taken from the part of the liturgy we pray at the end of Mass: “Go and Announce the Gospel of the Lord.” It reminds us that in the Eucharist, we are not only rejuvenated and nourished but also sent out into our communities, inviting all to “come and see the goodness of the Lord.”

When you make a gift to the CSA, you support the work of more than 170 ministries, services, and programs in the Archdiocese of Detroit that respond each day to the material and spiritual needs of countless individuals and their families. When we come together as the Church, nourished and strengthened there by the Eucharist, our words and actions share the Good News of the Gospel with those around us.

I am grateful for the many ways you have contributed to this work in the past. I ask that you please consider renewing your gift this year, helping us continue to share with all the purest joy found only in Christ.

Entrusting you to the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes, Blessed Solanus Casey, and St. Anne, our patroness, I remain,

Sincerely yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron
Archbishop of Detroit