At our pre-synod Prayer and Listening events, we have consistently heard that the growth of our Church depends upon our ability to give a clearer witness to the difference that Jesus has made in our lives, especially by imitating his sacrificial love and concern for those in need. Each year, the Catholic Services Appeal Foundation (CSAF) gives us a powerful opportunity to offer that witness by supporting the broader works of the Church undertaken in our archdiocese.
The scene might feel familiar: A priest stands at the front of his church and asks the congregation to sit and learn about the annual Catholic Services Appeal.
People groan. Eyes roll. A baby cries.
When Cindy Koeppl experienced complications at 26 weeks pregnant with her third child, a couple of doctors urged her to have an abortion because the baby had less than a 5 percent chance of living after birth.