the catholic community of st. francis of assisi
Serving the Mission of the Diocese of Raleigh
Every year at this time, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal (BAA) is shared through the local parishes in the Diocese and on the Diocesan website. This year’s BAA campaign theme is ‘Open Your Heart | Open a Door!’ and reflects the BAA’s impact on all aspects of our faith in the Diocese of Raleigh and the services it provides. Bishop Zarama says of the Appeal, “The BAA helps me to help the Diocese serve our people. Each parish has its own needs, but we are a family. Through your prayers, by your volunteer service in your parish, and through your resources…you can help this Diocese serve for 100 years more.” He adds, “I am humbled by your generosity and inspired by the hope it signifies. Your prayers and financial gifts aid many in need and enable us to joyfully share the Gospel in Eastern North Carolina.”
In 2024’s successful campaign, 112% of the goal was raised, with over 8 million dollars donated to the appeal from 19,412 donors, and all of these funds remain in the Diocese for local commitments. As the Dioicesan website explains, 34% of the funds support ‘Christian Formation and Education,’ 26% support Catholic Charities, 14% provide ‘Parish Support and Ministry Services,’ 11% drive ‘Catholic Communications,’ 8% for ‘Seminarians and Vocations,’ and 6% for ‘Marriage, Family and Respect Life.’ However, these are just the numbers and categories, remembering that none of these efforts are funded solely by the BAA. With nearly a quarter of a million Catholics living in the diocese, along with 29 diocesan Catholic schools, 13 missions, and 81 parishes, there are a variety of disparate needs in the Diocese of Raleigh that receive some support from the BAA, and each year, these needs grow.
Volunteer Spotlight: Pam James
Pam James can weave, and not just a great story! Pam has been in Weaver’s Guilds, each with over 200 members, in three different states, Colorado, Texas, and North Carolina, and has been an avid weaver and mixed media artist for a long time. Every two years, there is a convention where she says, “Every well-known weaver attends and is probably teaching a class.” This past year, the convention was in Wichita, Kansas, where she entered a piece in the Mixed Media category and won 3rd Place!
How does this correlate to her work at St. Francis? She weaves her love of art with her leadership of the ‘Care for Creation’ ministry at St. Francis. “I’ve always been a bit of an ‘eco-freak,’” says Pam,” I grew up with the idea that you mustn’t waste. My sister-in-law is kind enough to call me resourceful, but I’m just cheap! I’ve always asked myself, ‘Why would I throw that away? I can use that.’” She exclusively uses ‘recycled yarn’ in weaving, embracing the ‘reuse’ principle of Care for Creation.
Emmaus Ministry
We have all shared in the loss of a loved one, much as the disciples did when they suffered the loss of Jesus. In the Gospel of Luke, we read of two disciples walking home from Jerusalem to their village of Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, after experiencing the death of Jesus. While they were walking, the resurrected Jesus came upon them and began to walk with them. Of course, the conversation started with recent events surrounding the death and burial of Jesus. The two didn’t recognize Jesus at first. At this point, Jesus began to teach the two what the Scriptures had to say about all that had happened. He accompanies them in their grief, shares stories with them, and reveals himself in the eucharistic bread as Jesus Christ (Luke 24: 13-35).
This passage reveals the importance of our Emmaus Ministry at St. Francis of Assisi. These volunteer women and men walk with those who have experienced loss. They assist parishioners in dealing with the death of a loved one by helping them with funeral preparations and “walking” with them in their time of sorrow. They share with them in their grief and help to prepare the celebration of life for their loved one.
