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The InterVIEW

Bishop finds inspiration, gratification in appeal

A regular feature of The Catholic New World, The InterVIEW is an in-depth conversation with a person whose words, actions or ideas affect today's Catholic. It may be affirming of faith or confrontational. But it will always be stimulating.

Bishop Francis Kane serves as episcopal advisor to the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Annual Catholic Appeal, in addition to serving as episcopal vicar for Vicariate II.

The 2007 Annual Catholic Appeal generated a record $15.2 million in pledges, with $13.2 million collected by Dec. 27. Of that, $2.5 million was rebated to parishes that had exceeded their goals.

Bishop Kane spoke with journalist Colleen Smith about the appeal during a meeting at his Chicago office.

Catholic New World: What, for you, is the charism of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Annual Catholic Appeal?

Bishop Francis Kane: We have a great diversity here in the Archdiocese of Chicago, and it’s wonderful that we have Mass in Vietnamese and Polish and Spanish and so many other languages. We have a number of different cultures, and each has their own particular devotions. The Annual Catholic Appeal helps unify our archdiocese and helps people realize that our diocese is larger than our individual parishes.

The appeal provides a wonderful opportunity to build up the church and God’s people. The appeal makes some great things happen. For example, we have meetings here of pastors and principals from Catholic schools who receive extra help from the appeal, and they represent an entire portion of the population here in Chicago that would never be able to receive Catholic education without the grants from the appeal.

CNW: What is the most challenging aspect of serving as the appeal’s episcopal advisor?

BFK: Sometimes it’s a humbling experience to ask people to give money. Another part of me feels very good about that because I know we’re asking Catholics to donate to a good cause that builds up the church here in Chicago. For all of us — Cardinal George and the pastors and myself — it’s a matter of having the humility to ask somebody to be generous. We have to have confidence that this is a wonderful local church and the Annual Catholic Appeal does so much to make it an even better church. But we have to ask for support.

CNW: What are the personal rewards of your ministry to the appeal?

BFK: To look at the face of someone who has been an appeal beneficiary is reward enough for me. The lives of so many people are touched by this appeal, and so many people support it. I always feel I get back more than I’ve ever given.

CNW: The theme for the 2008 Annual Catholic Appeal, taken from the readings for commitment Sunday Jan. 27, is “The Lord is my light.” How does the appeal bring the Lord’s light to the people of God in the Archdiocese of Chicago?

BFK: The appeal becomes a light for everybody to see in the community. Christ’s light is present to us, and you see it in so many different way. It might be in the eyes of a young child in school. It might be in the hope you see in a pastor when he knows he’s going to be able to make it in the parish and he has the relief of knowing that he doesn’t have to be overwhelmed by the burden of finances.

There are so many different ways that the annual appeal brings the Lord’s light into the lives of people. We have to have confidence that this appeal is the work of the Lord — not just our own. We have to realize that we’re always in the hands of the Lord. To somehow think we don’t need the Lord would be a terrible mistake. The Annual Catholic Appeal reminds us to live our lives in such a way that we put our trust and confidence in our belief that the Lord will lead; and where we go, he will be there to help us find the path.

Even in what some may call dark times, there are so many beacons of light that we see. Violence and war are part of society, and we face many allures of a world that can guide us into some dark corners of life, but to be always looking for the Lord’s light — that’s the essence of our faith. In a world that sometimes only sees darkness, it’s a great, great consolation to have the light of Christ to guide us. We really need to look toward that light. Christ will light our way and give us direction and hope, and that light will be our inspiration and our call to generosity.

CNW: What do you say to Catholics who have never pledged to the Annual Catholic Appeal or who withhold support of the appeal?

BFK: So many of us were educated in Catholic schools and we were beneficiaries of a grant of in-kind service from the sisters who taught us. We benefited from that, and what a wonderful thing it was. This appeal is one way of paying back for the wonderful education we received.

And those who didn’t benefit from Catholic education benefit from the many ministries the appeal supports. As a diocese, we have to see that the church is wider than any one parish.”

CNW: What do you say to Catholics who gave in the past and will again support the Annual Catholic Appeal?

BFK: I want to first of all give people an appreciation for the good they are doing and I want people who contribute to the appeal to realize how much it means to the church. I am always absolutely overwhelmed and edified by the generosity and goodness of people.

I can’t express in words that gratification I feel personally and that the church feels towards them and the good they do. I pray all the time for those who have been generous benefactors of this archdiocese.

CNW: What is your hope and prayer for the 2008 Annual Catholic Appeal and beyond?

BFK: We are standing on tradition and building toward the future. I hope people will come to see this Appeal as a beacon of hope for our diocese that gives us the confidence that with the Lord to lead us, we can do great things.

The Annual Catholic Appeal can remind us of the courage we need to be people making commitments, courage to be people of faith in society that is secular and not so supportive of faith, courage to be the church in a world that sometimes doesn’t understand us, and also the courage and willingness to give of ourselves — to give money. I believe the appeal will get into the marrow of the bones of this archdiocese.

Parishes will inform parishioners about this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal and collect pledges the weekends of Jan. 19-20 and 26-27 and Feb. 2-3.