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27: The impact of giving with Tim Potter · Beyond The Beacon

• 0:07
  SPEAKER_02: Welcome to Beyond the Beacon with Bishop Kevin Sweeney, a podcast of the Diocese of Patterson.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_02: I'm Jay Agnish, Communications Director for the Diocese and editor of the Beacon newspaper.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_02: With me is Bishop Kevin Sweeney.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_02: Bishop, good morning.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_02: How are you?
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_01: I'm good, Jay.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_01: Good morning.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_01: How are you doing?
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_02: I'm doing well.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_02: So tell I I heard you uh went went to the Jets game.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_02: But can you tell me a little bit about that?
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_01: Uh it was it was I hadn't been to an NFL game in years.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_01: And through a long story, uh a cousin from Ireland was here in St.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_01: Patrick's Day, and she and her husband ended up meeting Joe Cleco, um great jet from the uh 70s and 80s, and uh part of the New York Sack Exchange with Mark Castanow.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_01: And um so he I got to meet him through her, and he's a very good man, a man of faith, and um I actually um uh met him a couple of times and he was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame this past August.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, and uh he rec got his Hall of Fame ring this Sunday night at the Jet Game, and he was kind enough to invite me to be there.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_01: Monsignor Silva went as well.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_01: And uh so um we uh we were able to be with his family in a one of the suites and watching the game and it got off to a terrible start, the chess losing 17-nothing.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_01: Uh uh some people were more interested in a certain girlfriend who was attending the game, Ms.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_01: Swift that's gonna be a good one.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_01: Did he see Taylor Swift or what?
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_01: Was there spotting?
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_01: No.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_01: But uh going down at halftime for the um ceremony where he was given his uh Super Bowl ring was a real treat.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_01: And so on the field, you got to go on the field.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it was great at halftime.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_01: And then the the you know, by the end of the second half, by the by halftime, the Jets had made it a game and they tied it in the beginning of the third quarter.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_01: It was looking great.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_01: And unfortunately, uh they boy the Jets and the Giants are both struggling at the moment.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_01: So uh here, let's get basketball here soon.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_02: Hockey for me.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um yeah, but um, all right, hockey's around the corner.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um I did want to mention uh I I wrote this week in beacon about uh Joan Andrews Bell.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um people may or may not be familiar with her name, but she's been somewhat active in the pro-life movement for 50, 40 at least years.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_01: And yeah, um, she's a parishioner, yeah.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um her husband, Chris, runs uh founded Good Council homes that are are homes for women in crisis pregnancy situations where the mom can come and have her child and stay until she gets on her feet.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_01: Um they're both originally they they live in Monaco or so um um Joan is something uh is part of something called Operation Rescue, which was very popular in the 80s and the 90s, civil disobedience um uh outside of clinics, and uh but it involves getting arrested.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_01: And uh so she was arrested doing a rescue um in Washington, D.C.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_01: a few months ago and was just went through a trial and was convicted.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_01: And um she may be facing 11 years in jail, she's 74 years old, so um a real witness and um and a per, you know, a member of the diocese.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_01: So we pray for her, and it's uh I think um again, it probably doesn't get much media coverage, but someone who believes so strongly in the dignity of life and is willing to sacrifice so much, I think, is is real inspiration.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: And on that note, um uh this past Sunday at St.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_01: Paul's Inside the Walls, we had our annual Red Mass uh attorneys.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_01: Uh there's a group of attorneys that um uh are part of the evangelization efforts at St.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: Paul's Inside the Walls, and each year they give out an award, advocati Christi, uh, to someone who in the legal field is also living their faith.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_01: And they the award yet this year was given to Judge Esther Salas, um federal judge, lives in New Jersey, um whose uh son was shot and killed in a tragic um event in um I think it was July of 2020, and um her husband was shot three times.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_01: Thank God he survived and he was there.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_01: Um but both she and her husband, the husband, even when he in the hospital after he was shot, their pastor went and um broke communion and anointed him, and he said to the priest, um I w I want you to know and others to know that I forgive the shooter.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_01: And um it took Esther Judge Sallas a little while longer um to um but her as the as the her pastor said, it was she's a woman of faith, and through that faith uh was has been able to forgive the shooter and um to hear their testimonies, both her pastor and herself, was a real, real blessing.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I think there's an article in this week's beacon.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we had an article, we have an article in this week's beacon, and your column, of course, talks about Joan Andrews.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_01: And Judge Sallas, I think there's I have to look on YouTube.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_01: Apparently the she's given testimonies.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_01: Uh she spoke at her parish on Good Friday.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and uh so um so um you know, as we say, uh there are things that for us might seem impossible, but with God all things are possible.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, others have said for a parent to lose her only child and um uh to be able to forgive is um is really um an act of tremendous faith and a great testimony.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_01: So um so uh I encourage uh listeners and uh viewers to to check that out on the beacon, uh Judge Sallas.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, absolutely.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_02: So um well good.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks for sharing that, Bishop.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_02: I wanted to introduce this week's uh guest, Tim Potter.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_02: How you doing, Tim?
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_01: I'm well, thank you.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_01: Well too.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_02: So uh here in the Diocese of Patterson, of course, we are conducting our diocesan ministries appeal, which supports Catholic charities, seminary and formation, Catholic urban education, the health care of our senior priests, and more.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_02: Please consider helping your brothers and sisters in need by making a gift.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_02: Visit 2023appeal.org today.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_02: So Tim has been the chief development officer for the Diocese of Patterson for 30 years.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_02: He is responsible for fundraising with the diocese, specifically with the diocesan ministry's appeal.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_02: And the past two capital campaigns, uh, there's one in 2000 and 2013, which maybe we can get into later.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_02: And Tim is also available to consult with parishes on their parish campaign.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_02: So welcome, Tim.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks for being here.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_04: Welcome, Tim.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks, Bishop.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks a lot.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_02: So before we get too much further, I'm gonna ask if the bishop can uh open us up in prayer.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_01: Sure, we'll place ourselves in God's presence in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_01: Yesterday, October 4th, we celebrated the feast of St.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_01: Francis of Assisi, and this past Sunday was October 1st, the Feast of St.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_01: Therese of Lesieux.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_01: And these two great saints remind us to love as Jesus calls us to love.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_01: And we remember that we can do that each in our own way.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_01: And we're grateful for the generosity of so many who make sacrifices throughout our diocese to to support our ministry's appeal and especially the good works that are funded and supported by the ministry's appeal.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_01: And um as we pray today, we ask the help of Mary, our blessed mother, as together we pray.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_01: Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_01: Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_01: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_01: Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_01: And we should be praying for the church in these days as well as the Synod on Synodality has begun.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_01: And so uh we'll be talking more about that as we go forward.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_01: But uh, we pray for Holy Father and all the delegates uh gathered in in Rome for the Synod on Synodality.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_02: So, Bishop, I heard I heard this story from Tim of how you guys first met.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_02: I was hoping to maybe hear hear it from your from your side.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_01: Sure.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so I was serving as pastor of St.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_01: Michael's Parish in in Brooklyn and got a phone call telling me that the Holy Father had chosen me as the next um Bishop of Patterson.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_01: I got that call on March 30th, and it wasn't announced, made public until two weeks later, April 15th, which that year was of 2020, was the um Wednesday after Easter.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_01: And as we know, that was the time of the lockdown.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_01: And um, so I wasn't able to come to the diocese when it was announced.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_01: I did a video, Bishop Saratelli did a video, um, and it was unclear when I'd be able to come.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_01: I would eventually come and visit the cathedral, St.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_01: Paul's, and some others, uh, Father Stephen Prisk, who was living with Bishop uh Saratelli at that time.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_01: But um one of the uh Dason employees uh came to see me in Brooklyn, uh, and that was Tim as uh we connected, and uh he was um as he always does looking ahead um and who knew what was gonna be next, a month away, two months away at that time.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, but um not only in dealing with the the virus, uh the economy, and um uh so much that was changing and uh uncertain at that time, but um Tim wanted to be ready and um and it was even unclear when I would be installed as as as Bishop of the Diocese uh as it turned out it would be July 1st.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_01: But um so the um has it always been uh in your time, Tim, that the appeal begins at around uh end of September, early October?
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_04: In in in the September.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_04: It always starts.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_01: Interesting.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_01: I think different dioceses do different things.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_01: And um in Brooklyn, um the appeal was usually started right around uh the beginning of Lent, if a couple of weeks before Lent.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_01: And so um uh in 2020, um, you know, the lockdown came in the middle of March.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_01: And so we were just kind of starting our so I think um the the appeal was was was um heard in Brooklyn that year, and I'm sure the diocese, but um at least um I guess it was winding down for us around that time, the previous year's appeal.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_01: And uh so then um, you know, uh as I came to the diocese and um we started looking um forward and I can still remember Tim coming to St.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_01: Michael's and us sitting in a room and uh uh talking about some things and and Tim talked about the the name of the appeal, right?
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_01: And uh and I think it was a ch kind of a trend that had been happening even nationally that where many dioceses and still some dioceses um um some dioceses uh um have have it called the bishop's appeal, and that was the trend as these appeals began.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, yeah.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_01: But uh I think the calling it the bishop's appeal focuses on an individual.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, in a diocese the bishop is the chief shepherd, and um but it's really supporting the work of the diocese, the ministry of the diocese, the the ministries of the diocese.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_01: So uh Tim said that he can share it himself, but that it had been thought for some time and would I be open to um changing the name to there were a few options I think at that time, but I th we settled on Das and Ministries appeal.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_01: And I remember it was early on meeting the priests and talking to the pastors and uh sharing that the name of the appeal had changed, and there was it took a little time for did you change the name of the appeal and what happened there?
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_01: Uh but now a few years in uh I think uh people have gotten used to the name.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_01: Tim can tell you that.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_01: But uh I I think it's it's been a good move.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_01: Even as I talk about it, uh to say the Daasin Ministries Appeal, that's really what we're asking our parishioners to support the ministries of the diocese.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_01: So uh I'm happy to do my part.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but um uh I I think it's uh it's a more accurate name.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_01: Am I remembering correctly?
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_01: You are.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_04: And and um it uh it's it took off.
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_04: That name I think uh was well received by pastors and parishioners.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_04: I got some really good feedback from that.
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_01: So uh a few bumpy moments at the beginning.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_04: Well, we had to keep putting formally the bishop's annual appeal in every all the materials for a year.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_04: It's like formally Twitter.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, exactly.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_04: But but I just wanted to touch upon what Bishop said uh in 2020.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_04: That was such a difficult year for everybody.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_04: Um but what was remarkable was the response from our parishioners to the appeal in 2020.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_04: Uh you know, the the midst of COVID, something that the country or the world has never faced before.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_04: A lot of unknowns, a lot of a lot of pain, a lot of people's families and lives.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_04: And people had lost jobs.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, lost jobs.
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_04: The economy was was not in great shape.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_04: Um and through that, and despite that, despite that, um the parishioners of our diocese responded to the appeal in such a unique unique way.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_04: I think what happened was that uh, like Bishop said, the economy was very difficult.
• 13:09
  SPEAKER_04: So some people might not have been able to support the appeal as they normally wouldn't would because of the situations, but others who were able to stepped up even more, knowing that the situation was so grave.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_04: And as a result of that, in 2020, we did better than we did the year before.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_04: Oh, wow.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_04: And I think that's just a such a testament to our parishioners that uh when they see a need, uh, they'll respond.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_04: It was really it was really touching to say, it really was.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that that's awesome.
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_02: And yeah, so I guess like w where does the where does the money go, Tim?
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_02: Tell us what tell us.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um I I I rattled off a list of of some of the ministries that that the DASI ministry's appeal supports, but can you give us some maybe examples or anecdotal?
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_02: Sure.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_04: So as you mentioned, Catholic charities, seminary education, Catholic urban education, and uh pre-retetirement and health care needs.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_04: Okay, yeah.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_04: Um the the focus uh I think that people really respond to, they respond to all of them in different ways.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_04: But I think Catholic Charities really touches uh people in in a unique way because that is really where we do the corporal works of mercy.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_04: Um and this year especially, uh one of the things that we we're doing, in addition to all the support that we give to the different Catholic charities programs, because as you know, there's over 60, 70 different programs throughout our entire diocese that touch so many people, tens of thousands of people.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, Catholic Charities is doing some incredible work in the Catholic City.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_02: It's incredible.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_04: It's incre and it's so vast and so varied.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_04: I don't I think it's unique among the diocese of the kind of Catholic charities work that we do.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_04: From group homes uh for adults with disabilities to veteran services to Straighten that room.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_04: Straighten now, addiction services, and then uh helping the poor, feed the poor.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_04: Um and this year, uh one of the things that we're doing uh through the Diocese of Ministries Appeal is supporting the complete renovation of the Father English food pantry in Patterson.
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_04: Okay.
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_04: Uh that food pantry before COVID served about 7,000 people a month, which is a high number.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_04: That's a lot of people.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_04: After COVID, during COVID, at its height, I think there was about 27,000 people coming.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_04: And now it's it's in the 20,000 a month range.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_04: It's still in the 20,000 a month.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_04: And it is being served in a building that's 80 years old.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_04: It's a former St.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_04: Boniface parish center.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_04: Um they would have uh, you know, socials there and bingo and things like that.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_04: Plays, yeah, they they showed the passion play there.
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_04: It was not meant to serve 20,000 people, but they've been doing it.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_04: They've been doing it.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_04: Carlos Roldan, who runs the food pantry, is phenomenal.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, but it shows.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_04: It's an 80-year-old building, it shows.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_04: So uh what we're looking, they're they're conducting a campaign to raise the funds to completely renovate it.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_04: And so we want to include the person of the diocese to participate in that too.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_04: So$200,000 for this year and for the next two years will be allocated to the Father English Food Pantry.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_04: Um, to those renovations, yeah.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and it's gonna it's going to the bishop and I have visited there often uh with people who have helped us out um with that and seen seen um the need.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_04: And uh it's phenomenal.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_04: They're going to enhance the aisles so there'll be more space for food.
• 17:04
  SPEAKER_04: Okay.
• 17:04
  SPEAKER_04: They're going to have additional clothing uh opportunities for people who just especially at this time of year are gonna need coats and don't have it.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_04: So this is the place where they're gonna be for veteran services.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_04: We're gonna support them, emergency services.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_04: It's gonna be a place where people can just their needs will be met.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_04: So it's almost like a food pantry plus.
• 17:23
  SPEAKER_04: And so we're really excited about that.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_04: And the response has been phenomenal from the parishioners so far.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_01: Great.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_01: And God sent to us uh 30 years ago, I think, around your time as well, uh Carlos, right, Rodan, who uh runs the Father English food pantry and is just an incredible gift.
• 17:41
  SPEAKER_01: Um uh Venezuela is he from?
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_01: I think I think so.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_01: I'm not sure.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_01: Um maybe Columbia.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER_01: I think so.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER_01: Um we gotta get him on one of these.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, yeah.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_01: He's um uh he's really a blessing.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_01: And uh to even to see his own professional development, right?
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, he was, I think, started out of the goodness of his heart, and then that little closet that we see when we visit, and uh how the pantry is developed.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I mean he could be running a company uh and I mean he does run a huge operation, uh, but and and uh you know he's he sees ahead, he thinks ahead, he he builds relationships, uh uh and but he most I think he sees Jesus in each person that comes and and the and the dignity that and the and the privacy sometimes and confidentiality and and you can see the way that that um is is communicated uh in in the volunteers and staff.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, he sets the tone, I think, in really a wonderful way.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and uh and that I think um, you know, uh a food, any food pantry is is serving the needs of our brothers and sisters who um are in difficult situations and nobody wants to be on that line, as Carlos will talk about.
• 18:55
  SPEAKER_01: But and many of them are working, uh and so any food pantry that's doing that is doing good work, but when we're doing it as a part of Catholic charities, when we're doing it as a part of who we are as as disciples of Jesus, that that we do it from that um perspective of faith.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_01: And I think Carlos does that really in a phenomenal way.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and you and you touched the word you said about dignity, Bishop, is is spot on, because that that is really essentially what we are doing as a Catholic church and as a faithful people is is showing people, our brothers and sisters, this dignity like we would show to anybody else.
• 19:28
  SPEAKER_04: And and one of the people um that's highlighted in the the Dio Simonists appeal brochure and video this year, uh her name is Michelle, and um she's currently homeless.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_04: And one of the reasons is because the the rents in Patterson have gone through the roof.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_04: Um so so more and more people are becoming homeless.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_04: And uh as a result, she has been a client of the food pantry.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_04: Um she also subsequently has become a staff person.
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_04: So she's been she's employed by the food pantry.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_04: So that gives her a unique opportunity to be uh on both sides.
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_04: So not only is she a client where she understands that she needs the help, but like Bishop said, some people are uncomfortable waiting online.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_04: I who wouldn't be?
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, that's that's not but also a source of inspiration and hope because um she was there in in need and receiving help, and now she's part of the team that's uh offering that help.
• 20:23
  SPEAKER_01: And I think uh with the renovation of the center, things that Carlos and others have been able to do kind of ad hoc or um as the need arises, whether it be English classes or uh they had a they were basically doing their own employment service for a while, and but it was um kind of put together uh by on a shoestring or with massive, you know, the again very resourceful, but now the newly renovated center will uh uh allow them to have facilities to do English class, do career training and resume writing and uh and and employment service and other services, whether it be addiction counseling or um social services, uh family assistance, uh, because as Carlos will often point out, you know, when somebody's coming for that that food, um they'll it's often because of some other issues or challenges that they're facing.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_01: Again, some are um working two jobs and paying the rent and raising a family, and it's just not uh, you know, the the the especially with today's prices, um uh that couple of bags of food will make a difference in in feeding the family.
• 21:28
  SPEAKER_01: But then there are others who um it's because of some other um uh issues or concerns that led them, uh you know, has uh have they found themselves in this tough spot and uh yes, they're coming for food, but um there's other needs that if if they realize the resource resources are there that can help them have that um that that that hand up uh and uh and the new center is gonna be better able to do that, right?
• 21:54
  SPEAKER_04: Yep, absolutely.
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and that's that's one of the things that that I think differentiates uh differentiates us from other organizations.
• 22:01
  SPEAKER_04: Uh you know, there are other organizations that provide social service.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_04: God bless them.
• 22:05
  SPEAKER_04: Thank you.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_04: Absolutely.
• 22:07
  SPEAKER_04: And they're needed.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_04: But the difference is that we do this because it's our Catholic call.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_04: And that and that is that's why we do this.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_04: Um and so I think that gives us a different perspective when we're dealing with with people, uh, that we're doing it really with compassion and love in Christ's name.
• 22:23
  SPEAKER_01: Aaron Powell And we get to see it uh kind of at the end of the line or at that moment where you know the person is receiving the help, but um uh food drives in parishes or uh promises to the appeal, uh uh the the smaller gifts and the larger gifts.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um They allow us that it's it's those sacrifices and that generosity of people from parishes throughout the diocese, uh, right, that are making and and the I think Carlos kind of oversees the efforts, but there's also uh food distribution in um in uh in Dover, right?
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_01: In in Morris County and in Sussex, right?
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_01: There's the Meals on Wheels program in Franklin, right?
• 23:02
  SPEAKER_04: So we have it in all three counties.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_04: Um and and one an uh another story, if I just have a minute uh to tell about the kind of work that is done through Catholic charities, is a couple of years ago, I'm on the board of Catholic Charities, and so there was a a a meeting with the staff and and workers at from Straight and Narrow, which is our uh addiction services program.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_04: And so it was held at a restaurant in Patterson, and it was a Christmas, kind of a Christmas party.
• 23:28
  SPEAKER_04: And uh they had a presentation and a PowerPoint of all the different services they provided, how many people they helped, and really kind of interesting numbers, you know, about all this the all the help that they're providing to so many people.
• 23:40
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_04: Uh and but you know, numbers are numbers, but they were still kind of interesting.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_04: Um as this presentation was being given, uh suddenly, just out of nowhere behind everybody at this restaurant was a voice came booming out and said, That person is telling the truth.
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_04: And so everybody turned around like, what's going on?
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_04: And it was this this man there standing there who was who was serving uh at the restaurant, and he said, if it wasn't for straight and narrow, I would not be here today.
• 24:12
  SPEAKER_04: He said, They saved my life, and I am here because of them, and thank God because of my because I have a family to to help, and I wouldn't, I I am so grateful for them.
• 24:24
  SPEAKER_04: And and wow, that's just spontaneous.
• 24:27
  SPEAKER_04: And and again, numbers are great, but when you hear that, when you see a person and know that the church has touched that person's lives and that person's family's lives, sure.
• 24:37
  SPEAKER_04: It's just you just feel great to be a Catholic in a size when you hear that.
• 24:41
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_02: You know what?
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_02: Now might be a good time.
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_02: I I think we're gonna um show a clip of this year's diocesan ministries appeal video.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_02: So we're gonna go to that clip right now.
• 24:51
  SPEAKER_00: I'm currently homeless.
• 24:52
  SPEAKER_00: The rent where I was staying, that was 1400.
• 24:55
  SPEAKER_00: It's 2500 now.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_00: So that's pushing a lot of people to be homeless now.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_00: Not only homeless, hungry.
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_00: Some people they embarrass coming to the pantry.
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_00: So I talked to them and I let them know that it is what it is, it's life.
• 25:12
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you're not the only one in this situation.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_00: I am here also.
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_00: I'm a client.
• 25:17
  SPEAKER_00: And not only that I'm a client there, I became an employee.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_00: Now I've been there a little over two years now.
• 25:24
  SPEAKER_00: I want to thank you for donating to the appeal.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_00: It is so much needed.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_00: They helped me tremendously.
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_00: They helped me, and um that's this this was his world need help, and that's what we're here for.
• 25:36
  SPEAKER_00: We all become one big family.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_02: So that was a really moving video, absolutely.
• 25:43
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, one of the things I I um like these little vignettes of of the people that that the ministry, that the Asset Ministries Appeal helps.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um the video has been this is maybe the third one that we've read.
• 25:58
  SPEAKER_01: And uh the work with a company, right?
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_01: That uh uh and they've been doing a great job, I've I've heard, with and because we show it at mass on Sunday and uh parishioners always like a longer no, they don't like a long uh so time is always an issue.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_01: If uh if uh we show the video and it's 10 minutes, that's gonna be a long homily or um a large large.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_01: So uh is it about six minutes this year?
• 26:23
  SPEAKER_01: Six and a half minutes.
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_01: Ren Ben that number.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_01: So uh um but it I think it it packs a punch and yeah uh uh tugs it, you know, it speaks to the heart um as well as to the mind and and and seeing the faces and hearing the stories, uh the retired priest, uh the the um newly ordained, right?
• 26:41
  SPEAKER_01: Father Diego talks about the support he received as a seminarian uh the mom and the young girl from uh St.
• 26:46
  SPEAKER_01: Gerard's uh uh you you as you were saying, Tim, seeing uh the the real um uh impact that that the appeal and and the generosity of our people has is uh uh I think uh really tells the story in in in in a beautiful way.
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_01: So um uh you've been hearing I I've been hearing positive things about this year's video.
• 27:07
  SPEAKER_01: Have you been hearing this?
• 27:08
  SPEAKER_04: I have been, yeah.
• 27:09
  SPEAKER_04: And um you're right, it puts it puts a a face to the work that we do, and I think parishioners appreciate that.
• 27:14
  SPEAKER_04: We've actually um asked asked the number of parishioners there for their feedback on it, and it's been across the board very positive.
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_04: So that that's that's encouraging.
• 27:22
  SPEAKER_04: Um and and again, in addition to the video, uh Well how how can people see the video if you um they can go to our diocesan website, rcdop.org, uh, and they can look follow the link to the diocese of appeal page, which will have a lot of information.
• 27:39
  SPEAKER_04: Uh and the video will be up soon.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_04: That's we're gonna wait a little bit because it's shown in the parishes toward the end of October.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_04: So we'll have that, but so be on the lookout for that.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_04: But that's coming up soon.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_02: So you're getting a sneak peek today on the podcast.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_01: So, Tim, um, I like to hear um as vocation directors, we priests, we hear share sometimes our vocation stories, and you know, we believe that we all have that call from baptism to to live our faith, and uh whether it be in the single life, um married life, family life, but also in in the work that we do, and some um find that call uh by uh working within the church or within the diocese.
• 28:18
  SPEAKER_01: And and for you, that's uh a while ago that you heard that call and that you've remained.
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_01: So maybe just tell a little bit about how um the uh you started with the diocese and and and why you've maybe you've remained or I I know you've raised a family along the way over these these 30 years or so.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_01: Uh maybe just give us a little bit about your own kind of story and and what got you into this um kind of work and and how it's been uh over the years.
• 28:43
  SPEAKER_01: Aaron Powell Sure.
• 28:44
  SPEAKER_04: So I basically uh got a my first job out of college uh an insurance company in New York, which is fine.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_04: Uh my uncle was a priest in the Archdiocese of Newark.
• 28:54
  SPEAKER_04: Um and I remember one day he just called up and said, you know, the Archdiocese of Newark is looking for an assistant development director.
• 29:01
  SPEAKER_04: And I said, How do you spell development?
• 29:03
  SPEAKER_04: I just didn't I didn't really know anything about it.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_04: And I told him that he said, It's assistant, you're not running everything.
• 29:09
  SPEAKER_04: He said, the person who is the development director there, John Walsh, um, is a great guy.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_04: So I interviewed with him, and from there on that kind of stayed with me.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_04: And uh been in Catholic fundraising for a long time and started with the Did you get that job with Yes.
• 29:25
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 29:25
  SPEAKER_04: Yep, yep.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_04: And uh and then I came with to the Patterson Diocese in uh 1993.
• 29:33
  SPEAKER_04: And and it's it's been fantastic.
• 29:35
  SPEAKER_04: Uh you know, when you development skills are kind of transferable in a sense that uh once you once you kind of know the basics, that can be applied to uh hospitals or environmental causes or or schools, universities, art galleries, anything, you know, art.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_04: Uh but uh this is home to me.
• 29:54
  SPEAKER_04: You know, uh it raised my family in the diocese where personal to St.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_04: Virgil's in Mars Plains, and it speaks to me.
• 30:01
  SPEAKER_04: This is what I believe more than anything.
• 30:03
  SPEAKER_04: And so I think uh to be successful at at this, you need to really believe in what you're what you're asking people to contribute to, which is which is the greatest work we can do.
• 30:15
  SPEAKER_01: So and the um appeal, as we've talked about, supports um Catholic charities and and and that's a a big chunk and and and such an important part of of who we are and what we do as as a diocese and as a church.
• 30:30
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and then also um seminarian education, inner city Catholic um schools, uh, and um retired priests.
• 30:39
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe do you want to say just a quick word about each of those and what maybe people may not be aware of or the impact that it has if they are giving a donation to the appeal?
• 30:48
  SPEAKER_04: So uh what's kind of great about uh the diocese and the appeal is that uh we really do care for our senior priests.
• 30:56
  SPEAKER_04: Um and so that's manifested in two ways.
• 30:58
  SPEAKER_04: So we have Nazareth Village, which is a retirement residence for retired diocesan priests, um, and that's located in Chester, right in our diocese, and that's home to to those priests who find that uh living situation something, a comfort to them.
• 31:14
  SPEAKER_04: Uh and so it's great because they live in community, okay, but they're also pretty active.
• 31:18
  SPEAKER_04: Um I think Bishop said in one of the videos, you know, a retired uh what was it, a priest is uh retired but not yet tired, right?
• 31:26
  SPEAKER_01: I think it was other lands right there.
• 31:27
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 31:28
  SPEAKER_04: Yep, yep.
• 31:29
  SPEAKER_04: And so uh many of them are still very active.
• 31:32
  SPEAKER_04: Um uh but but it's it's a it's it's a great opportunity for those priests.
• 31:37
  SPEAKER_04: And then there's priests who have additional health care needs, because Nazareth Village doesn't really take care of if there's some uh urgent health care needs, uh they need they need extra care.
• 31:46
  SPEAKER_04: And so the appeal will help fund that extra care, um, which I kind of like that's what I like about the appeal is that it supports our seminarians um at the very early stages of their priestly formation, all the way through and into their retirement ages and any health care needs.
• 32:04
  SPEAKER_04: And so I I think that that's when you get to the appeal, it's kind of a nice way to to thank the the men who are coming into the church to serve us, and also thank those priests who've served us for decades.
• 32:18
  SPEAKER_04: So that's a great way to think about it.
• 32:20
  SPEAKER_01: And uh inner city uh Catholic education.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_04: Yep, yep.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_04: St.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_04: Gerard's is is uh an incredible school.
• 32:26
  SPEAKER_04: Uh it's the only school Catholic school we have in in uh school in Patterson.
• 32:32
  SPEAKER_04: Um and so uh it's really important that we support them.
• 32:35
  SPEAKER_04: Um it's a difficult situation in Patterson.
• 32:38
  SPEAKER_04: There are very limited economic opportunities, and so that's why we want to encourage people to look at Catholic education as as a way to improve their lives socially, academically, spiritually.
• 32:51
  SPEAKER_04: And so uh and St.
• 32:53
  SPEAKER_01: Gerard's has a new excuse me uh pastor this year, Monsignor George Hunt, who served for so many years with a wonderful school in St.
• 32:58
  SPEAKER_01: Vincent's parish in Bannison.
• 33:01
  SPEAKER_01: And uh Monsignor Hunt had been the pastor in in St.
• 33:04
  SPEAKER_01: Gerard's uh I think around 2000.
• 33:06
  SPEAKER_01: And uh now he's going back, and uh it it it really is a mission school.
• 33:12
  SPEAKER_01: Um it receives a support of the appeal.
• 33:14
  SPEAKER_01: A group like Tri-County Scholarship.
• 33:16
  SPEAKER_01: We need to talk about Tri-County one of the days because they do great things in terms of supporting uh uh people throughout the three counties, families that want to send their kids to Catholic school, but need some help.
• 33:27
  SPEAKER_01: And so St.
• 33:27
  SPEAKER_01: Gerard's gets a lot of support.
• 33:29
  SPEAKER_01: Um but even with that, it's still struggling.
• 33:32
  SPEAKER_01: And so Monsignor Hunt is hoping uh with the the principal sister Joanne and and and others to our education office, Mary Bayer, uh, to um to uh lift the school uh up to a uh even higher level so that it can serve um those uh families and young people in the inner city, um, not only in St.
• 33:52
  SPEAKER_01: Gerard's Parish, but in the surrounding parishes in the city of Patterson.
• 33:56
  SPEAKER_01: And so um uh and we recognize the challenges for all of our Catholic schools uh and we're grateful um for um all the hard work and the dedication uh and the support that's given um in many ways.
• 34:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um so um again the support of the of the ministry's appeal will help um the Catholic schools in the in the toughest of environments, uh, but where they're most needed as well in many ways.
• 34:22
  SPEAKER_04: Absolutely.
• 34:22
  SPEAKER_04: And and we've talked about the different ministries, diocese and ministries uh that serve people throughout three counties of the diocese.
• 34:29
  SPEAKER_04: Uh but the appeal also supports parishes through the rebate.
• 34:33
  SPEAKER_04: Oh, yeah.
• 34:33
  SPEAKER_04: So we so uh 50 percent of all the cash received over a parish's goal is returned right back to the parish uh for their own use.
• 34:43
  SPEAKER_04: Um and so that can be significant.
• 34:45
  SPEAKER_04: Um, you know, so we last year, for instance, there was um over$900,000 returned to parishes through the rebate program.
• 34:55
  SPEAKER_04: And over the last five years, um it's been over$4 million.
• 34:59
  SPEAKER_04: And and I think people appreciate that because uh they want to look at the church locally and then also as a larger church of the diocese.
• 35:08
  SPEAKER_04: So um it it helps, again, tens of thousands of their brothers and sisters in need throughout the three counties of the diocese, but also through the re rebate program, there's an opportunity for parishes to receive some funds that can be used for their own.
• 35:20
  SPEAKER_01: And a very important point there, um at least maybe two, um how grateful we are to our pastors um for supporting the p appeal, promoting the appeal.
• 35:32
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Tim, maybe you can say a word about them and also about the the NPU weekend, which is is very important.
• 35:39
  SPEAKER_01: Uh but um uh the generosity of our priests, um, not only our pastors, but priests uh in terms of they make their own gift to the appeal, and many of them make a generous sacrificial gift to support the appeal.
• 35:53
  SPEAKER_01: And uh the uh the lay uh chairpeople, we had a meeting of a few weeks ago, uh, and uh you know our pastors have full plates and they support the appeal, but um having one or two people that um are are gonna help in terms of the organizing and outreach and promotion of the appeal at the parish level.
• 36:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um I went from one to two to three points there, I think.
• 36:13
  SPEAKER_01: But uh but maybe uh word on our pastors and their leadership, uh the lay uh uh chair people and and and who help in the parishes, and then the generosity of our priests in general.
• 36:24
  SPEAKER_04: Yep.
• 36:24
  SPEAKER_04: So so Bishop is absolutely right.
• 36:26
  SPEAKER_04: This is really all about leadership and at the local level.
• 36:29
  SPEAKER_04: Um I'll be honest, we can prepare the best videos and brochures and and and all these kinds of websites, everything.
• 36:36
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, but it all it happens really at the local level with the pastors and the lay appeal chairpeople.
• 36:41
  SPEAKER_04: So I I'm just so grateful to those pastors that really support it and promote it.
• 36:45
  SPEAKER_04: Um and you can see that in the response from the parishioners.
• 36:49
  SPEAKER_04: Um and the lay chairpeople, we depend on them.
• 36:51
  SPEAKER_04: Like Bishop said, the pastors uh have a very busy job.
• 36:56
  SPEAKER_04: And so understanding that and understanding that the the fundraising might not be their their top priority.
• 37:03
  SPEAKER_04: We really my office and and the diocese really tries to make it um as palatable as possible.
• 37:09
  SPEAKER_04: Okay.
• 37:10
  SPEAKER_04: And so over the years, I think we've we've done that, hopefully.
• 37:13
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and that uh it's kind of like almost turnkey in a sense that is, you know, everyone kind of knows what to expect.
• 37:20
  SPEAKER_04: And so I think that helps the pastors.
• 37:22
  SPEAKER_04: Uh and they depend on the lay chair people who are assigned to help promote, to help him promote the appeal in the parish.
• 37:28
  SPEAKER_04: So so there are many great ones, and and um, we're so grateful for them.
• 37:33
  SPEAKER_04: And like Bishop said, the generosity of the priests in this diocese is phenomenal.
• 37:38
  SPEAKER_04: Um, that to me, again, shows that even though this might not be like their favorite thing to do at this time of year, uh, they're doing it.
• 37:47
  SPEAKER_04: And they're not only just just following the plan that we have uh for them, uh, but they are kind of putting what their money where their mouth is by really making very sacrificial and generous gifts.
• 37:59
  SPEAKER_04: Um that's what leaders do.
• 38:01
  SPEAKER_04: You know, so if if uh if the parishioners under you know look to the pastors for leadership and it starts with them and they start and they give generously, um there's usually the very first gift in a parish is from the pastor.
• 38:14
  SPEAKER_02: Aaron Powell And so how can parishioners give as well?
• 38:17
  SPEAKER_02: So we're we're gonna there'll be the in pew weekend.
• 38:20
  SPEAKER_02: Can you talk about the phone?
• 38:21
  SPEAKER_02: There's different ways.
• 38:22
  SPEAKER_01: So so it's essentially hopefully many would have already gotten a mailing, right?
• 38:25
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 38:25
  SPEAKER_04: Yep.
• 38:26
  SPEAKER_04: So we have a we we we send out a series of letters, uh, but part of the overall plan of the appeal is the in-pew weekend, um, which takes place toward the end of October this year.
• 38:36
  SPEAKER_04: And uh that's just an opportunity, one for the pastors uh and for the parishioners to see the video.
• 38:41
  SPEAKER_04: We ask parishes to show the video if they can.
• 38:44
  SPEAKER_04: Some parishes can't just because the way they're logistically set up.
• 38:47
  SPEAKER_01: Some put it on their website eventually.
• 38:49
  SPEAKER_04: Some put it on the website.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_04: And then we also have an audio homily for those that that are unable to show the video.
• 38:53
  SPEAKER_04: So we get the message out in many ways, but hopefully the video will be shown because again, it puts the face to the names and the work we do.
• 39:01
  SPEAKER_04: Uh and that's done during the MPU weekend.
• 39:03
  SPEAKER_04: We show the video, and then we ask the pastors to take a few minutes just to uh go through a response envelope that's in the pews for parishioners to fill out quickly.
• 39:12
  SPEAKER_04: And and that weekend just does such a phenomenal uh it has such a phenomenal impact on the appeal that again, I know it's it's kind of like different from a usual Sunday, but in my view, it it really it's again all about doing the corporal corporal works of mercy.
• 39:29
  SPEAKER_04: So even though we're asking people at church to make a commitment, it is for uh the parishioners and the people that we're in need that we're serving.
• 39:37
  SPEAKER_04: And that's that's kind of what we do as a church.
• 39:39
  SPEAKER_04: So I think there is symmetry there.
• 39:41
  SPEAKER_04: Uh and the people have responded incredibly to the MPU weekend, so that's coming up too.
• 39:46
  SPEAKER_01: Great.
• 39:47
  SPEAKER_01: Uh electronic giving has also gone up over recent years, is that right?
• 39:50
  SPEAKER_04: Yep.
• 39:51
  SPEAKER_04: Uh that's uh something we want to we want to give people every opportunity to to uh support the appeal in their own way.
• 39:58
  SPEAKER_04: Uh some of this technology is uh probably better understood by my children than me.
• 40:03
  SPEAKER_04: Um but uh but yeah, we're we're looking at different ways to meet people where they are, and one of them is through uh elect online giving.
• 40:11
  SPEAKER_04: So uh parishioners can go to 2023appeal.org.
• 40:16
  SPEAKER_04: It's pretty simple.
• 40:17
  SPEAKER_04: It changes each year.
• 40:18
  SPEAKER_04: This year it's 2023appeal.org and make an online gift.
• 40:21
  SPEAKER_04: Um and people have been doing that more and more.
• 40:24
  SPEAKER_04: Um, again, just because it's easy and and uh it's just another option.
• 40:27
  SPEAKER_04: So there's different ways to give.
• 40:29
  SPEAKER_04: We can we've gotten received gifts of securities from time to time, things like that.
• 40:33
  SPEAKER_04: So my office is always available for any any parishioner who who wants to give in a different way or or asks any questions.
• 40:40
  SPEAKER_04: We're always there to help them.
• 40:41
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 40:42
  SPEAKER_02: Are there ever like uh I guess like endowments or or people?
• 40:46
  SPEAKER_04: So we've had we the the appeal uh funds are used on an annual basis uh for the specific needs that we call out.
• 40:53
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 40:54
  SPEAKER_04: Uh through our capital campaigns that we've conducted over the years, we've established endowments.
• 40:58
  SPEAKER_04: And there have been some people uh who've uh been fortunate enough to be able to have the funds necessary to establish a downment maybe in in their child's name who might have passed away or a loved one.
• 41:10
  SPEAKER_04: Um and so we have some endowments from that uh that are but were created by individuals.
• 41:15
  SPEAKER_04: So like I said, anybody can call up my office and we can talk about that.
• 41:18
  SPEAKER_02: Obvious ways to give and unique ways to give.
• 41:21
  SPEAKER_02: And they can reach out to you for for more.
• 41:23
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 41:24
  SPEAKER_02: Well, we're gonna have uh the the link that you referenced to 2023appeal.org in our show notes.
• 41:31
  SPEAKER_01: And um Yeah, is there anything else uh we want to ask Tim or I think just from along along with Tim and the just say thank you to everyone who uh supports the appeal.
• 41:44
  SPEAKER_01: Again, our pastors and uh parishes that promote it, but um in a special way those who give to the appeal from the smallest gift to the largest.
• 41:52
  SPEAKER_01: And um I've been really blessed and inspired through Tim.
• 41:57
  SPEAKER_01: Um we have parishioners uh who have done well um in in business or in other fields, and uh they're people of tremendous faith uh who um make some really very generous uh gifts and uh um to get to know them uh uh is is really been a blessing for me.
• 42:16
  SPEAKER_01: Some of our visits to the Father English Center or some of the other meetings that we've had uh with some of our our donors uh really um um has been really inspiring and and a blessing for me uh as bishop to to know those who support us.
• 42:31
  SPEAKER_01: But um from each one who fills out a card or goes online or any gift uh makes a difference.
• 42:38
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and it's uh the loaves and the fishes, you know, if that we give a little bit and the Lord multiplies it, and we see we see that in the appeal in such a beautiful way.
• 42:47
  SPEAKER_01: So just to say thank you to um to all those uh who make it possible.
• 42:51
  SPEAKER_01: And Tim, thanks for coming on today and for all that you do day by day, and uh to your wife and the children who support us.
• 42:58
  SPEAKER_01: And uh uh um that and so um thank you so much for all that you're doing.
• 43:03
  SPEAKER_04: Happy to help.
• 43:04
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 43:05
  SPEAKER_02: So, Bishop, before we uh close down this episode, is there anything else you want to share about anything that might be upcoming or uh anything on your mind or to ask for prayers and offer that invitation that we talked about last week uh on this coming Saturday?
• 43:18
  SPEAKER_01: I'll be saying Mass at um Um St.
• 43:21
  SPEAKER_01: Margaret of Scotland Parish um uh the feast of the Holy Rosary.
• 43:25
  SPEAKER_01: Uh October 7th.
• 43:26
  SPEAKER_01: This is the month of the Holy Rosary, October.
• 43:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um so uh we're gonna um celebrate Mass at 8 o'clock at St.
• 43:33
  SPEAKER_01: Margaret's of Morristown, and then after the Mass have a peaceful, prayerful process procession to uh Plant Parenthood facility there just to pray for um a greater respect for the dignity and value of every human life from the moment of conception and uh to pray for conversion of hearts and that building up of a culture of life.
• 43:51
  SPEAKER_01: So um uh keep that in your prayers, please.
• 43:53
  SPEAKER_01: And if you're uh uh available and would like to join us, uh the invitation is there.
• 43:58
  SPEAKER_01: And um so um yeah, that please keep that in your prayers.
• 44:06
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, well, thanks, Bishop Kevin.
• 44:08
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you, Tim.
• 44:09
  SPEAKER_02: And thank you all for spending time with us.
• 44:12
  SPEAKER_02: Join us again for the next episode of Beyond the Beacon.
• 44:15
  SPEAKER_02: Please subscribe to this podcast wherever you're listening.
• 44:18
  SPEAKER_02: Give us a positive rating, write a review, and if you're watching this episode on Bishop Kevin Sweeney's YouTube channel, be sure to like the episode, follow the channel, and ring the bell for notifications.
• 44:28
  SPEAKER_02: Email questions and podcast topic ideas for the bishop to beyond at pattersondioces.org.
• 44:34
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you for listening to Beyond the Beacon.
• 44:37
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you, and God bless you.
• 44:38
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you, Tim.
• 44:39
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.