The launch for this year’s House of Charity – Bishop’s Annual Appeal this weekend will feature two individuals who see fundraising not as a special project or campaign but as an aspect of discipleship.
Father Michael White and Tom Corcoran became well known for “Rebuilt,” their 2013 book about the transformation of a lethargic suburban church into a spiritually and financially thriving parish. They will share their insights on raising money during a keynote presentation and two breakout sessions.
The House of Charity launch will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the Our Lady of Hope Parish Center, 701 Little Gloucester Road, Blackwood. Over 140 House of Charity team leaders have registered to attend.
The House of Charity theme this year, “Who Is My Neighbor?” highlights the local needs to which the campaign responds. The campaign promotional video, noting the wide range of ministries that depend on the campaign, will be previewed at the launch.
Since the success of “Rebuilt,” Father White and Corcoran have gone on to author “ChurchMoney: Rebuilding the Way We Fund Our Mission.”
“We wrote our book to convey a very simple message that has simply been lost on the larger church: How we follow Jesus and how we handle our money go hand in hand. You cannot separate the two,” Father White wrote on his blog when the book was released last year. “You cannot be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ without making him the Lord of your finances.”
In the introduction to ChurchMoney, the authors state, “we’re certainly no Rockefellers.” They acknowledge formerly feeling “uncomfortable” with finances and experiencing the demoralizing effects of paying bills when money is tight. But, they learned, it’s “energizing and exciting” when Catholics see the connection between mission and their financial support.
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