By Molly Keene Smith

I love this photo, and I keep a copy of it on my computer desktop. A pastor here in the Archdiocese brought this plastic container filled with loose change to our office a couple of years ago. The pastor explained that it was a Catholic Services Appeal gift from one of his parishioners. This parishioner had been slowly adding to it over the past year to save up for a donation to the annual Appeal. It was so moving to receive such a gift. I took a picture so that I could be reminded of the intentional, sacrificial offering that this parishioner made to support the ministries of the Appeal.

When I look at this picture, I am also reminded of John’s gospel that tells the story of the fishes and the loaves. A humble offering made abundant. I can remember as a small child how amazed I was listening to the details of the miracle that occurred that day, especially the sheer numbers! Five loaves of bread with two small fish and 5,000 families fed. Twelve baskets of leftovers gathered after everyone had eaten and had their fill. What an incredible testament to the miraculous power of God!

It has often occurred to me that there must have been others among the thousands that day who had brought at least a little food with them that they might have given, but John only mentions one young child who offered what he had to share with the rest. Did the others who were there to hear Jesus not want to part with what they had brought out of indifference, or could it have been that they felt that the little they had was not enough? Did they wonder: What impact could my small offering have when there are so many hungry people here?

Do we experience this in our own lives as well? Do we find ourselves making no offering at all, instead of giving what we can, because we don’t think we will be able to make a difference? Is the enormity of the need overwhelming to us? Or do we have faith that when we give, whatever we are able to give, it is enough for God to do marvelous things?

Archbishop Shelton often says that “We are in this TOGETHER.”  The Catholic Services Appeal is a beautiful way to work together to make an impact for good in every parish in the Archdiocese. Together, and with God’s blessing, we can create our own miracle of abundance, with and for each other. And it can begin with a humble, sacrificial offering…. such as one plastic container of coins.

Molly Keene Smith is the Director of the Office of Mission Advancement.

A gift to the 2023 CSA can be made using the form below: