Annual appeal: Francis
Dear friend,
What’s in a name? Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone may not be familiar to most, but carrying the spirit of his humility and simplicity remains an inspiration to this day. That was St. Francis’ given name. His father gave him the nickname Francis which has become synonymous with Christian love, humble service, and faithful joy. The Call To Action community has begun reflecting on the spirit of St. Francis this year, seeking to continue our journey of sowers of a new moment.
St. Francis’ message resonates with the Call To Action mission in many ways. As we struggle for Church Worker Justice, we remember St. Francis as a man of God who was never ordained to the priesthood. You and I know the struggles of service, and we can relate to the humility and dedication to his faith that led Francis to engage in ministry. He and his community lived as “lesser brothers,” choosing the fate too many women and lay workers in the Catholic Church are assigned without the freedom of choice.
Francis was drawn to the outcasts, the lepers, those who have been shoved to the margins of their communities. Such a vision of inclusion and love continues to inspire Call To Action as we move forward sowing messages of love after four decades. As we reflect on the history of our community, we are excited to continually open up the windows and let more fresh air, ideas, and voices into the room.
While reform never happens as quickly as we would like, you and I have a special role to play in transforming our church to be a place of unconditional welcome and unwavering justice, just as St. Francis did so many years ago. I am so grateful for your generous support of Call To Action in the past. Might you consider resuming your support in 2014? Your ongoing witness gives hope to thousands of Catholics around the country that a more just and inclusive church is possible.
When Pope Francis asked the church for the lived experience of Catholics, Call To Action and partner organizations immediately made available the survey on the family, reaching the hearts and voices of thousands of Catholics. As we continue our dialogue, we rely so heavily on our dedicated supporters in this task.
2013 was a vital time at Call To Action: we saw Catholics for Marriage Equality win victories in 9 states and the United States Supreme Court. We rejoiced as Pope Francis asked, “Who am I to judge?” of our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community. Moreover, we remained a voice for women in the Church whose leadership continues to be stifled. They are deserving of an invitation at the table, too.
Our Catholic tradition is filled with sowers of love, peace, and justice; faithful activists who have cultivated community for generations. The vision and mission of Call To Action has always been to create an inclusive and welcoming community where the Body of Christ can come together as Church. Rooted in our love of the church, we renew our commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, and intergenerational dialogue so that we can finally dismantle exclusive structures and allow our organization to be the best it can be. We seek ways to foster community through online media and in local community events throughout the country.
We are so blessed to participate in this transformation and hope you’ll continue the journey with us!
Thanks to your financial contributions, Call To Action will be able to continue its prophetic witness by:
• Ceaselessly speaking out for Catholic women, giving voice to those called to ordination and those who work as lay people in the Church.
• Supporting church worker justice and developing outreach and community organizing mechanisms so that employees of the institutional Church are protected by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
• Welcoming and embracing all, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Catholics, as we continue to advocate for a place for everyone at the table.
• Promoting diversity and racial justice initiatives to cultivate an inclusive community, both within Call To Action and throughout the greater Church.
By investing in these initiatives, you are building tomorrow’s Church, one without walls, one without barriers, one without exclusion. Our initiatives are not possible without your generous support. Call To Action needs your support to sow love, truth, faith, hope, light, and joy. This sacred work is rooted in our Catholic heritage and we are honored to journey this path with you as we transform the Church.
Your generous support this year will allow Call To Action to:
• Inspire Call To Action members at this year’s national convention in Memphis, the West Coast Regional conference, local chapters, regional events and campaigns to confidently claim their church justice work as an authentic Catholic responsibility.
• Foster dialogue through regular webinars to continue the discussion sparked by the Survey on the Family, bravely addressing the topics that were forgotten, like women in the Church.
• Promote community and dialogue to carry on the vision of our founders, tell the stories of where we came from, and look towards the future with hope and optimism as we act for justice and build inclusive communities.
• Create a well-informed network of Catholics across the country to quickly and strategically carry a message of love, inclusivity, and justice to their local communities.
As we reflect on the spirit of St. Francis this year, I recall seeing on my grandmother’s wall the message, “where there is hatred, let me sow love.” Today, hearing my four-year-old son, Nathan invoke those same words reminds me that we have done much to transform the church and have much more to do. I am profoundly grateful for all your support and to be on this journey with you.
Sincerely,
Jim FitzGerald
Call To Action, Executive Director
P.S. Just like St. Francis, Call To Action hears the calling of God: "Francis, Francis, go and repair my house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins." We are tens of thousands of Catholics, young and old, who love our church and are working for its betterment. Your quick and generous gift ensures the resources to make our work for justice a reality!
