My dear friends,
I want to thank you for what each of you did to make this year’s Diocesan Council a very special time. It is so important to do what we do together. Thank you so very much.
As you recall, I announced that our House of Bishops has committed to a Capital Campaign to raise $10 million to rebuild Holy Trinity Cathedral and associated educational institutions in Port-au-Prince. Half of our offering at our Sunday eucharist at Council was designated by our Executive Committee for that purpose – something that I regrettably failed to announce.
I am, by this letter, asking you to conduct a campaign for this project in your congregations. It can be at a time and in a manner that is of your choosing. Let me suggest two options:
1. Use Lent as a time to remember in prayer the people of Haiti and their struggles to rebuild. That could be linked with offerings throughout the season;
2. Because Lent is fast coming upon us, you might wish to focus on a special offering on May 8 which, by this letter, I am designating “Hope for Haiti Sunday.” I am aware this is Mothers’ Day and think that encouragement to honor mothers through such a gift would be very much appreciated.
As I mentioned at Council, I have asked Mr. Dave Kelly of St. Andrew’s Cathedral to be our diocesan coordinator of this appeal. You may reach Dave at dkelly1@bellsouth.net or 601-956-7148. Soon I will also be appointing Convocational liaisons to be in touch with you about your plans and offer any assistance that we might have available.
Everything necessary to run the appeal – bulletin inserts, posters, newsletter copy and more can be downloaded from the diocesan website. Some churches have found it helpful to have someone within the congregation to volunteer to be the congregation’s coordinator. The website offers a week by week guide for local volunteers to assist them in planning.
The 2010 earthquake destroyed 70% of all Episcopal church buildings, including schools. Those of us who have been recipients of so much assistance after Hurricane Katrina surely understand the power of renewal and hope that begins to emerge when our spiritual centers are rebuilt.
Please join with me to help rebuild the Cathedral of our brother and sister Episcopalians in Haiti.
Thanking you in advance, I remain
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Duncan M. Gray III
Bishop of Mississippi
