“Rise, and do not be afraid”
(Matthew 17:7)
To make on online donation to the DPAA please click here. Be sure to enter "St. Joseph, Cold Spring" in the line for Parish so the donation is credited to our Parish.
See Fr. Gerry Reinersman's letter below for an explanation of how we will use the rebates from the DPAA.
Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal – Update and Rebate
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today we heard Bishop Roger Foys’ invitation for each of us to participate in the mission and services of our Diocese through the Diocesan Parish Annual Appeal. His video message, the insert in last Sunday’s bulletin and materials sent to your home make a strong case for our contributing to the work of our Diocese through the DPAA.
I strongly support the DPAA because it is our way to financially share in the necessary works of our Diocese and contribute to ministries of outreach to persons who have been wounded in one way or another by life circumstances. “Outreach” is a good word to use, because our contribution to the DPAA is the hand of Christ reaching out to others to let them know they have nothing to fear, or they have less to fear, because we are here to help them.
Christ’s message, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” (Matthew 17:7) is the theme of this year’s DPAA. It is an appropriate message for the reasons I give above, but especially for our parish DPAA rebate program of building an elevator onto the southeast corner of the church. This will provide no-step access to the church from the back parking lot and between upper and lower levels of the building. Handicap parking in the front of church is inadequate, to say the least. Even if we had more parking in front, persons with handicaps would still not have access to Kelley Hall or lower level meeting rooms. An elevator will even give somewhat easier access to Memorial Hall and other buildings.
Our 2016 DPAA rebate will be over $56,000, if all pledges are met, to put toward building an elevator. Our 2017 DPAA rebate will be used for the same purpose. DPAA rebates are not subject to Diocesan assessments. So, every dollar contributed to the DPAA, beyond our parish goal, will be set aside for the elevator.
DPAA rebates will be combined with other contributions and a percentage of the GROW Fund, until 100% of the elevator cost is in hand. As of yet, we do not have a firm cost estimate for the elevator. Last year, I announced the cost was presumed to be about $300,000. That is probably on the low side. We will obtain a more exact estimate in the next few months.
Next week, during Mass, we will complete our DPAA pledge forms together. Before then, please consider making a sacrificial offering that allows us together to be the strong hand of Christ reaching out to lift up those who have been laid low by some circumstance of life, and, at the same time, help our brothers and sisters who are handicapped to more easily participate in worship and parish life.
Your brother in Christ and pastor,
