Peter’s Pence Collection Be a Witness of Charity “Charity is infectious, it excites, it risks and it engages! For true charity is always unmerited, unconditional and gratuitous!” (Pope Francis, Homily, February 15, 2015) Dear Pastor/Parish Administrator: In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis calls us to be attentive to the voices of those on the margins and respond joyfully to their needs. He has asked us to “open our eyes and see the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are denied their dignity, and let us recognize that we are compelled to heed their cry for help!” (Misericordiae Vultus [MV], no. 15). Pope Francis has told us that “mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instills in us the courage to look to the future with hope” (MV, no. 10). Your participation in this collection will help each parishioner become a witness of charity, a force of mercy that reaches out to those around the world. The most important thing you can do is announce the collection at Mass. Please support this year’s collection by using the bulletin announcements and intercessions included here, which can be tailored for your parish community. Also, hang the poster found on the back of this mailer in a place where it will remind parishioners of the upcoming collection. Thank you for your support of Pope Francis and his charitable works. Sincerely in the Lord, Most Reverend Thomas J. Rodi Archbishop of Mobile Chairman, USCCB Committee on National Collections Inside: • Simple Steps • Bulletin Announcements • Parish Appeal • Intercessions • English Poster 80400116 Simple Steps Please take the following steps to promote the Peter’s Pence Collection in your parish: Announce the Peter’s Pence Collection in your parish, so your parishioners know what it is, when u to expect it, and why they should support it. Use the bulletin announcements and parish appeal provided. Additional promotional resources are v available at www.usccb.org/peters-pence under the “Collection Resources” tab on the left. Distribute the Peter’s Pence bulletin insert and the collection envelopes to your parishioners. w Preach about the Peter’s Pence Collection as a tangible act of communion with the universal Church. x Pray that all people will offer their support to Pope Francis, so that he might assist those most in y need around the world. Bulletin Announcements | Anuncios para el boletín The Week Before the Collection La semana antes de la Colecta Next week, our (arch)diocese will take up the Peter’s Pence Collection, which provides Pope Francis with the funds he needs to carry out his charitable works around the world. The proceeds benefit our brothers and sisters on the margins of society, including victims of war, oppression, and disasters. Join our Holy Father as a witness of charity to those who are suffering. La próxima semana la (arqui)diócesis realizará la Colecta Peter’s Pence, la cual le proporciona al papa Francisco los fondos que necesita para llevar a cabo sus obras de caridad alrededor del mundo. Lo recaudado beneficia a nuestros hermanos y hermanas que viven al margen de la sociedad, incluyendo a las víctimas de guerra, opresión y desastres. Únanse a nuestro Santo Padre como un testigo de la caridad para aquellos que sufren. The Week of the Collection La semana de la Colecta In the second collection today, we are supporting Pope Francis in his charitable works. The Peter’s Pence Collection is taken up worldwide to support our brothers and sisters on the margins of society, including victims of war, oppression, and natural disasters. In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, the collection is an opportunity to join with Pope Francis and be a witness of charity to our suffering brothers and sisters. Please be generous in today’s collection. En la segunda colecta de hoy, apoyamos al papa Francisco en sus obras de caridad. La Colecta Peter’s Pence se lleva a cabo en el mundo entero para apoyar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas que viven al margen de la sociedad, incluyendo a las víctimas de guerra, opresión y desastres naturales. En este Año del Jubileo de la Misericordia, la colecta es una oportunidad para unirnos al papa Francisco y ser unos testigos de la caridad para nuestros hermanos y hermanas que sufren. Por favor, contribuyan generosamente en la colecta de hoy. The Week After the Collection La semana después de la Colecta Thank you for your generous support of our Holy Father’s charitable works through the Peter’s Pence Collection. Our contributions will be combined with those from our brothers and sisters around the world to help Pope Francis provide essential relief to people in need. Your generosity is an act of solidarity with the universal Church, answering the call to become a witness of charity. May God bless you. Muchas gracias por su generoso apoyo a la Colecta Peter’s Pence para las obras de caridad de nuestro Santo Padre. Nuestras contribuciones serán combinadas con las de nuestros hermanos y hermanas alrededor del mundo para ayudar al papa Francisco a proporcionarles una asistencia básica a las personas necesitadas. Su generosidad es un acto de solidaridad con la Iglesia universal, respondiendo al llamado a ser un testigo de la caridad. Que Dios les bendiga. Parish Appeal Llamado a la parroquia Read this text from the pulpit, or include it as part of your weekly announcements. Lea este texto desde el púlpito o inclúyalo en los anuncios de la semana. English Through the Peter’s Pence Collection, we stand in solidarity with Catholics all over the world to support the charitable works of Pope Francis. Contributions to this collection are used to support the Holy Father as he reaches out to those suffering the effects of war and violence, natural disasters, and religious persecution. As he has reminded us in this Jubilee Year of Mercy, “the time has come for the Church to take up the joyful call to mercy once more. It is time to return to the basics and to bear the weaknesses and struggles of our brothers and sisters. Mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instills in us the courage to look to the future with hope” (Misericordiae Vultus, no. 10). Spanish Por medio de la Colecta Peter’s Pence, estamos en solidaridad con los católicos en todo el mundo para apoyar las obras de caridad del Papa Francisco. Las contribuciones a esta colecta se utilizan para apoyar al Santo Padre cuando él les tiende una mano a aquellos que sufren los efectos de la guerra y de la violencia, de los desastres naturales y de la persecución religiosa. Así como nos ha recordado en este Año del Jubileo de la Misericordia, “Ha llegado de nuevo para la Iglesia el tiempo de encargarse del anuncio alegre del perdón. Es el tiempo de retornar a lo esencial para hacernos cargo de las debilidades y dificultades de nuestros hermanos. El perdón es una fuerza que resucita a una vida nueva e infunde el valor para mirar el futuro con esperanza” (Misericordiae Vultus, no. 10). Intercessions Intercesiones To further extend the theme of the collection into the liturgy, consider using the following intercessions taken from the USCCB Office of Divine Worship’s “Holy Hour for Peace.” A modo de profundizar más el tema de la colecta en la liturgia, consideren utilizar las siguientes intercesiones tomadas de “Holy Hour of Peace” de la Oficina de la USCCB para el culto divino. R/. Lord, hear our prayer. R/. Señor, escúchanos. For all the suffering people in the world, including those who are served by the Peter’s Pence Collection, that God will send them a merciful witness of charity, we pray to the Lord. R/. Por todos los que sufren en el mundo, incluyendo a aquellos que son socorridos por la Colecta Peter’s Pence, para que Dios les envíe un testigo de la caridad, oremos al Señor. R/. For all of us who have been blessed with an abundance of good things, that we may enter more fully into the tasks God asks of us and become witnesses of charity to our brothers and sisters in need, we pray to the Lord. R/. Por todos nosotros, quienes hemos sido bendecidos con una abundancia de cosas buenas, para que podamos realizar más plenamente las tareas que Dios nos encomienda y convertirnos en testigos de la caridad para nuestras hermanas y hermanos necesitados, oremos al Señor. R/. For young people in our Church, that they might have the courage to follow Christ’s call and enter into a personal relationship with him, we pray to the Lord. R/. For Christians and all people of good will, may we never forget the great mercy of God or tire of asking for his forgiveness, we pray to the Lord. R/. Por los jóvenes en nuestra Iglesia, para que tengan el valor de seguir el llamado de Cristo y establecer una relación personal con El, oremos al Señor. R/. Por los cristianos y por todas las personas de buena voluntad, para que nunca olvidemos la gran misericordia de Dios o nos cansemos de suplicar su perdón, oremos al Señor. R/. These resources and others can be downloaded at www.usccb.org/peters-pence under the “Collection Resources” tab on the left. Estos recursos y otros se pueden transferir en www.usccb.org/peters-pence under the “Collection Resources” tab on the left. Peter’s Pence Collection Office of National Collections • United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 3211 Fourth Street NE • Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3346 • Fax (202) 541-3460 Be a Witness of Charity SUPPORT THE WORKS OF THE HOLY FATHER THROUGH THE Peter’s Pence Collection “THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT: LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I LOVE YOU.” (JN 15:12) 2016 Collection Information Inside Copyright © 2015, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Photo: © Gregorio Borgia/Reuters. 80400116