I will miss you all this weekend as Deacon Dave and I travel to Appalachia to cover the Holy Family Parish Masses.  It will provide a new experience for the people there having Mass with a deacon.  David and I will be covering four different churches Saturday evening and Sunday Morning and driving at least three hours to do so.  This is something Father Jugene does every week, as well as traveling to the churches during the week.
 
I know you will welcome Father Jugene this weekend and hope you will generously support his work in Appalachia.  The Appalachian area in Southwest Virginia faces alarming problems of poverty and drug use.  We can be proud that in our support of Holy Family Parish, we are helping the Catholic Community there confront these problems and provide support and comfort.  While Catholics represent a mere one half of one percent of the population, the Church’s impact is significant.  The Catholic Church, through the parishes out there, is well known in Appalachia for its outreach efforts and compassion.
 
This regional outreach through our Appalachian Twinning Ministry (ATM) compliments our local work with Saint Elizabeth Parish and our international efforts through St. John the Baptist Parish in Haiti.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support of these outreach efforts.  Through them, we make a difference and show the love to which Christ calls us.