June 2017

TO: Pastors, Parochial Administrators and Parish Life Collaborators

FROM: Mike Murray, Director of Stewardship and Mission Services

Be a Witness of CHARITY

2017 Peter’s Pence Collection, June 24 & 25, 2017

“This is My commandment: love one another as I love you.” (John 15:12)

On the weekend of June 24 and 25, the Peter’s Pence Collection will take place at parishes across the Diocese of Covington.  This Collection will provide Pope Francis with the funds he needs to carry out his charitable works around the world.  As a parish, we will have the opportunity to join with Pope Francis and be a Witness of Charity to our suffering brothers and sisters.

Through the Peter’s Pence Collection, we stand in solidarity with Catholics all over the world to support the charitable works of our Holy Father. Contributions to this collection support Pope Francis as he reaches out to those suffering the effects of war and violence, natural disasters, and religious persecution.

Please support this important endeavor by actively promoting the appeal in your parish.  A parish Handbook has been attached to assist you in your efforts.

Please take the following steps to promote the Peter’s Pence Collection in your parish:

Use the bulletin and pulpit announcements provided in the Handbook. Additional promotional resources are available at www.usccb.org/nationalcollections.Promote the Collection from the pulpit and in your bulletin on three weekends: Announcement (June 17/18), Collection (June 24/25) and Follow-up (July 1/2).Preach about the Peter’s Pence Collection as a tangible reflection of our communion with the universal Church.Pray that the Holy Father is provided with enough resources to assist those in most need of help around the world.Remit your Collection proceeds to the Diocesan Stewardship Office by July 28, 2017.

Remember, the most important thing you can do is mention the Collection at Mass.

I thank you for your generosity, and ask you to please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in faith who are facing adversity.

P.S. Please remember that the Diocese does not send out Appeal letters or envelopes for this Collection.

DIOCESE OF COVINGTONPETER’S PENCE COLLECTION

JUNE 24 & 25, 2017

Be a Witness of CHARITYSupport the Works of the Holy Father Through the

Peter’s Pence Collection

PARISH HANDBOOKDiocesan Stewardship and Missions Office

1125 Madison AvenueCovington, KY 41011-3115

(859) 392-1500

DIOCESE OF COVINGTON2017 PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION

Be a Witness of CHARITY

PARISH HANDBOOK INDEX

COLLECTION CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENT WEEKEND INFORMATION

COLLECTION WEEKEND INFORMATION

HOMILY NOTES

FOLLOW-UP WEEKEND INFORMATION

AUDIT/PROCESSING INFORMATION

PARISH REPORTING FORM

DIOCESE OF COVINGTON2017 PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION

For the Works of the Holy FatherBe a Witness of CHARITY

COLLECTION CALENDAR

First Week of June Materials emailed to parishes

June 16, 2017 Bishop Foys’ Letter in the MessengerPeter’s Pence Collection ad appears in the Messenger

June 17 & 18, 2017 Announcement WeekendPulpit AnnouncementBulletin InsertPrayers of the Faithful

June 24 & 25, 2017 Collection WeekendPulpit AnnouncementBulletin InsertPrayers of the FaithfulHomily Notes

July 1 & 2, 2017 Follow-up WeekendPulpit AnnouncementBulletin InsertPrayers of the Faithful

July 28, 2017 Parish Remits Collection ReceiptsParish Audit ProceduresParish Reporting Form

JUNE 17 & 18, 20172017 PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION

ANNOUNCEMENT WEEKEND

Be a Witness of CHARITYPULPIT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Be a Witness of CHARITY

Next week, our second collection will be for Peter’s Pence, 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. Please be generous. Join Pope Francis and Be a Witness of CHARITY in the world.

BULLETIN INSERT:Be a Witness of CHARITY

Next week our diocese will take up the Peter’s Pence Collection, which provides the Holy Father with the funds he needs to carry out his most important charitable works around the world. The proceeds benefit the most disadvantaged: victims of war and violence, oppression, and natural disasters. Join our Holy Father as a Witness of CHARITY to those who are suffering. Please visit www.usccb.org/nationalcollections for more information.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL:

For Christians and all people of good will, may they never lose hope in the possibility of peace…. we pray to the Lord.

JUNE 24 & 25, 20172017 PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION

COLLECTION WEEKEND

Be a Witness of CHARITYPULPIT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Be a Witness of CHARITY

Our seconds collection today is for Peter’s Pence, a worldwide collection that supports the charitable works of Pope Francis. Funds from this collection help victims of war, oppression, and natural disasters. Take this opportunity to join with Pope Francis and Be a Witness of CHARITY to our suffering brothers and sisters. Please be generous today.

BULLETIN INSERT:Be a Witness of CHARITY

Today we support the Holy Father in His charitable works. The Peter’s Pence Collection is taken up worldwide to support the most disadvantaged: victims of war, oppression, and natural disaster. This is an opportunity to join with our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and Be a Witness of CHARITY to our suffering brothers and sisters. Please be generous in today’s Collection. For more information, visit www.usccb.org/peters-pence.

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL:

For government leaders, may they hear and respond to their people’s plea for peace and justice….we pray to the Lord.

For those who have died, especially those who have died in war, may the Lord accept them into his loving presence....we pray to the Lord.

DIOCESE OF COVINGTON2017 PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION

Be a Witness of CHARITYHOMILY NOTES

FR. ANDREW YOUNG

“Let us 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! May we reach out to them and support them so they can feel the warmth of our presence, our friendship, and our fraternity! May their cry become our own, and together may we break down the barriers of indifference that too often reign supreme and mask our hypocrisy and egoism!” (Pope Francis, Misericordiae vultus 15).

“There is much that we can do to benefit the poor, the needy, and those who suffer; and to favor justice, promote reconciliation, and build peace” (Pope Francis, General Audience, March 20, 2013).

“The Church can never be exempted from practicing charity as an organized activity of believers, and on the other hand, there will never be a situation where the charity of each individual Christian is unnecessary, because in addition to justice, man needs, and will always need, love” (Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est 29).

This weekend’s Gospel reading reminds us that following Christ must be the first priority in our lives. The mission that the Lord entrusts to us cannot be put off until later or subordinated to other concerns. He calls all of us, at this moment and at every moment, to respond to His call with generosity and love.

This weekend’s Peter’s Pence Collection is an opportunity for us to respond to the Lord’s call by joining with our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and Catholics from around the world in bringing the love and compassion of Christ to those who suffer most. This collection provides the Holy Father with the funds he needs to carry out charitable works around the world in service to the victims of war, oppression, and natural disasters. By contributing to this collection, we are able to bear witness to the love of God for all His people and honor the divine image according to which all men were created. Let us pray for a greater respect for that divine image, so that all people might enjoy the dignity that is theirs and experience, especially in times of hardship and suffering, the compassion and love of Christ.

JULY 1 & 2, 2017 2017 PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION FOLLOW-UP WEEKEND

Be a Witness of CHARITYPULPIT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Be a Witness of CHARITY

Thank you to all members of our parish family who made a contribution to the Peter’s Pence Collection to support the works of the Holy Father. To date, our parish has contributed $_______ that will enable the Holy Father to respond with emergency assistance for our brothers and sisters throughout the world. If you didn’t have the chance to make your donation, please drop it in the collection basket today.

BULLETIN INSERT:Be a Witness of CHARITY

Thank you for your generous support of the essential work of the Holy Father and his charitable acts through the Peter’s Pence Collection. Our contributions will be combined with those of our brothers and sisters around the world to help Pope Francis reach out to those in need. Your generosity will help you to Be a Witness of CHARITY.

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL:

For young everywhere, may they grow in courage to seek the peace God offers the world….we pray to the Lord.

For those serving in the military, may the Lord guide them and protect them…we pray to the Lord.

That the Lord will bless the Holy Father and all of us, as well as those in need throughout the globe and throughout the universal Church….we pray to the Lord.

DIOCESE OF COVINGTON2017 PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION

Be a Witness of CHARITY

PARISH AUDIT PROCEDURES

1. The Parish handles all bookkeeping procedures and generates acknowledgement letters/receipts for all gifts made to this Collection. The Diocesan Stewardship and Mission Services Office does not send an Appeal letter and envelope to registered households for the Peter’s Pence Collection. The only gifts the parish receives comes in parishioners Peter’s Pence envelopes. Parishioners may also make a check payable to the Peter’s Pence Collection, and drop it or cash in the collection basket through your second collection.

2. The parish forwards one parish check representing the amount taken up in this Collection to the Stewardship and Mission Services Office by July 28, 2017. Please enclose the attached 2017 Peter’s Pence Collection Parish Reporting Form with your check made payable to the 2017 Peter’s Pence Collection.

3. Mail check and the 2017 Parish Peter’s Pence Collection Report Form (on green paper) to the Diocesan Stewardship and Mission Services Office, 1125 Madison Avenue, Covington, Kentucky 41011-3115.

4. If you receive additional contributions after you have made your report and forwarded your check, please cut a parish check, made payable to the 2016 Peter’s Pence Collection, representing additional gifts, and mail to the Diocesan Stewardship and Mission Services Office at the above address.

5. If you have questions, please call the Stewardship Office at 859-392-1500.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND COOPERATIONAND PLEASE THANK YOUR PARISHIONERS

FOR THEIR CONTINUED GENEROSITY!

NOTE: Please do not send collection remittance envelopes to the Stewardship and Mission Services Office

DIOCESE OF COVINGTON2017 PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION

Be a Witness of CHARITYPARISH REPORTING FORM

PLEASE PRINT ON GREEN PAPER _________________

Name and title of person completing form:

__________________________________________________________

Parish: ___________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________

City/State/Zip: _____________________________________________

Phone #: ____________ E-mail Address: ______________________ PARISH CONTRIBUTION:Our Parish’s contribution for the 2017 PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION is $_________

A check made payable to Diocesan 2017 PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION in the above amount:

__________ Is Enclosed

__________ Other (please explain) ____________________________

__________________________________________________________

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM (on green paper) WITH YOUR PARISH CHECK BY JULY 28, 2017

Diocesan Office of Stewardship and Mission Services2017 PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION

1125 Madison Avenue Covington, Kentucky 41011-3115

THANK YOU!

“A little mercy makes the world less cold and more just.”—Pope Francis, Angelus, March 17, 2013

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On the weekend of June 24 and 25, our diocese will take up the Peter’s Pence Collection. Our participation in this collection supports the charitable work of Pope Francis as he reaches out to those who are marginalized and suffering around the globe. By supporting the Peter’s Pence Collection, you will join the Holy Father in bringing a little more mercy into the world.

Pope Francis called to us in his 2016 Urbi et Orbi address, “May efforts be made everywhere to promote the culture of encounter, justice and reciprocal respect, which alone can guarantee the spiritual and material welfare of all people.” We are taking up this collection to be part of the Church’s effort to promote a culture of encounter and justice. Your support makes it possible for the Holy Father to carry out his charitable works around the world, to help victims of war, natural disasters, and other difficult situations.

Let us join with our brothers and sisters in faith from around the globe to help Pope Francis reach the marginalized in our world. Please prayerfully consider how you can best support the collection this year. For more information about the collection, please visit www.usccb.org/peters-pence.

Thank you, and may God bless you abundantly.

Yours devotedly in the Lord,

Most Reverend Roger J. Foys, D.D.Bishop of Covington