Dear Parishioners,
This year, for the Grand Annual Appeal at Incarnation Parish, I am writing a short letter. Not because the need is not great, but because the story of this wonderful parish and its resurgence of life and ministry is widely known. I am asking you to give in this season of the Incarnation in recognition of the abundant blessings of God in your own life, and in the life of your faith community here. As pastor, I am privileged to witness the vitality of this parish every day. At a recent gathering to launch our appeal, two parishioners spoke eloquently of what makes this place tick, this “je ne sais quoi” that makes this community so vitally alive in worship, service, life-long learning and hospitality. About the same time, the first gifts to our Dominican Republic Mission Fund were given by teenagers: two young women who handed me fifty dollars each from their confirmation gifts. A few minutes ago I had to go over to church for something, and found a crew of volunteers making meatballs for our weekly lunch at My Brothers Table in Lynn. Almost every Sunday someone says “I came here for a funeral, and we’ve been looking for a parish, and I think this is it.” Yesterday I heard of a lively meeting with our third graders, 45 great kids who are at Mass every Sunday and who couldn’t wait to give perceptive and correct answers to Ann Lahiff’s questions about Advent. Tomorrow we receive a high school freshman into candidacy for Full Communion. She says she feels accepted and loved here, and longs to become “one with the Catholic Church” These moments gladden my heart. But the Irish can’t get too happy without peering into the shadows. We have a lean and reasonable budget for a parish of our size, but we do have a significant revenue challenge in that 20% of our 1,250 registered households are providing 80% of our income. I know that in our Archdiocese trust has been shattered, that generosity has been abused, that there is a toxic past that will haunt us always. Healing happens one parish at a time. Signs of healing are everywhere here, and it is simply time to acknowledge that and invest in it. Our giving to charity has seen great increases. If we were not succeeding so well in our outreach to the poor, I feel I would have no platform on which to stand to ask for an increase in regular support of the ordinary daily needs of your parish. I know that the economy is limping along, but I also know that almost all of us have the resources at hand to give generously. Please join me in making a significant gift to this year’s Grand Annual. The enclosed budget gives you a glimpse of where we stand, and the enclosed EFT form makes it easy to give by credit card or automatic deductions. If you want to learn more, please contact me, or simply go on line for our bulletin archive at www.incarnationmelrose.org. In any week, my letter will give you a snapshot of parish life and ministry. God has done great things for us. Please help your community continue to do great things for God.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. James A. Field Pastor