This weekend, we will be providing you the opportunity to have your throat blessed after Mass (or before Mass at 4:00p.m.), as we commemorate the Feast of St. Blase this coming Tuesday, February 3. This is a centuries-old tradition in the Church. Later this month, at all weekend Masses on February 14 and 15, we will be celebrating the Sacrament of the Sick with those parishioners who are seriously ill, aged, infirm, or awaiting surgery.

This past week, all our registered parishioners at Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph received a letter from Archbishop James P. Keleher outlining the opening of the "2004 Call to Share: A Disciple's Response." This weekend, we will be listening to a three-minute presentation by Archbishop Keleher regarding this important campaign for the Archdiocese. This is the 28th year of the Archbishop's Call to Share Program in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. It was initiated by Archbishop Strecker in 1977 to fund a variety of ministries in the Archdiocese.

In 2002, our parishes joined the Archdiocese in a great capital fund drive called, "A Future Full of Hope." Over $49 million in pledges were secured to address emerging capital and endowment needs of the Archdiocesan institutions. One million dollars was designated for Immaculata High School here in Leavenworth. Immaculate Conception parishioners pledged $173,864 to this campaign over a 5-year period, of which $45,060 will be returned to the parish if all pledges are made. St. Joseph Parishioners pledged $300,135 to the campaign, with $87,804 to be returned to St. Joseph Parish if all pledges are made within five years.

I certainly encourage all of you who pledged to "A Future Full of Hope" to continue your pledges, as our parishes will receive 50% of monies pledged once our targeted goals are met. At Immaculate Conception these funds were dedicated for improvements of Miege Hall (now already completed), and new lighting in the church. At St. Joseph Church, the funds will be used for our new parking lot project.

Although "Call to Share" was suspended for one year during the capital fund drive, the Archdiocese must continue its annual appeal for the on-going needs of the Archdiocese. This year, each of our parishes has been given a targeted goal to meet. If we exceed that goal, 60% of the funds raised over our target will be treturned to our parishes. At Immaculate Conception, we are asked to raise $10,147 this year; and at St. Joseph, we are asked to raise $17,417. I realize this is a significant sacrifice to our parishioners who are already supporting us financially each and every week, and may still have pledges to make to "A Future Full of Hope," or last year's, "Call to Share." I would ask each and every parishioner to make some contribution to this effort and together, I am sure we will be able to reach our targeted goal!

God bless you always!