Help a parish struggling to keep the lights on

By MICHAEL J. ARVIZU
SFMYA

I am sitting here in the studios of 89.9 KCRW as a volunteer working the phones for the station's seasonal pledge drive. Volunteers from all over Los Angeles are giving their time to take listener pledges.

As I sit here waiting for the phone to ring, I wonder about the poor parishes in our archdiocese and how much they need our support. KCRW makes an effort at every pledge to get listeners to donate by giving them incentives such as being entered into a drawing to win a car or a vacation, or giving away magazine subscriptions, tickets to shows or CDs.

A parish doesn't have incentives. The only incentive, I guess, is that they open their doors every day so that you can have a place for prayer or confession. I think that's enough incentive for you to donate to your parish or a parish who is in desperate need of support.

Each year, the archdiocese holds a drive of sorts called Peter's Pence. This is an opportunity for you as a parishioner (faithful listener?) to donate to a parish that may be struggling to keep the lights on. Listeners who call sometimes ask me if their donation of $25 or $50 is too small, and I tell them that no, any donation, large or small, is welcomed.

Your parish or any parish will welcome your donation, large or small. Any donation that will make it easier each month for a parish to pay its bills goes a long way, and those parishioners thank you for making it possible to be able to have a house of prayer in their community.

Michael J. Arvizu sits on the SFMYA Youth Advisory Board.