I am proud to call Saint John my parish and my family. There is no greater group of people dedicated to actively living their faith and their mission in Naples, I believe. Whenever called upon (or when we decide to act proactively), the Parish Family rallies around our own to support them in loss and difficulty. We celebrate the achievements of our children and youth. We mark anniversaries and nuptials. We mourn and grieve together when we loose those we love. Nothing is a clearer showcase of our devotion to our Catholic ideals and deeds than the level of effort expended every single day by our parish to assist the poor in the local area.
We have clear and defined programs like our Homeless Feeding Program and the Immokalee Mission Team. Saint John has groups that dedicate resources to assisting those that are less fortunate, like the Ladies of Charity, Knights of Columbus, and our Knitting and Crocheting Ministry. We support regional groups with funding and manpower, including Habitat for Humanity, Saint Vincent DePaul Society, Saint Matthew’s House, and Catholic Charities. And most importantly, all of us as parishioners give in so many quiet and various ways, from our time in soup kitchens to our generosity both at church and in our community.
Our Capital Campaign is another way we will be creating major solutions to support the poor in our area. Did you know that integrated into our plans is the funding to make sure that no youth or adults are ever turned away from experiencing the joy of our community? All programs will have needs-based scholarships and support. Did you also know that a sizable portion of our Campaign Endowment goes directly to supporting our outreach efforts in Immokalee and right here in Naples? That means we are establishing programs with long-lasting and life-changing support capabilities, not just a donation to a worthy cause.
It is by our vision and our effort together as a Parish Family that we can make a major and lasting positive impact on our community around us, and illustrate what our faith truly stands for. I hope you are just as enlivened by these efforts as I am.