Archbishop's Annual Appeal

February 1, 2011

Dear Friends in Christ,

“From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (Gospel of St. John, 1:16) God gives his graces, his gifts, freely, out of unconditional love for us and all women and men.  In particular God has given us his Son as our Savior, Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the Old Covenant in the New Covenant of Calvary and the empty tomb on Easter morning.

God continues to give us gift after gift, particularly in the life we live in Christ’s Church.  The Mass and the Sacraments, the Catholic faith we share with our families, friends and neighbors, the moral teachings, the experiences of prayer and devotion, the Church’s outreach to the poor and  neediest among us here and around the world: these are the daily, loving gifts God gives in Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

We hear God’s call to respond to his love, especially by sharing his gifts with others.  Our local Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of San Francisco, acting through the programs funded by the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, channels your generous gifts of your resources to Catholic education and religious instruction, formation for priestly, diaconal and lay ministries, service to the many diverse ethnic groups among us, Catholic communications, the protection of children and young people, and many other works.

Indeed, we have received grace upon grace.  I urge you to join me this year in sharing our resources through the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal so that the works of our Catholic Church may continue and grow in strength.

With my gratitude for your continued support of the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, I am

Most Reverend George Niederauer
Archbishop of San Francisco