Follow up on Special Collection for Retired Priests and Seminarians

My Brothers, 

A follow-up reminder to you of the upcoming Special Collection for Retired Priests and Seminarians, to be taken up at all the Masses in the Diocese of Yakima this weekend—May 19 and May 20, 2012. 

As you may recall, this Special Collection has, in recent years, played a very important role in our efforts in the Diocese of Yakima to stabilize funding for both our elderly and infirmed priests and our seminarians. 

Currently projected financial funding for our retired priests (and for the remainder of us who will retire) into the future is underfunded by 37%. For our seminarians, “the financial picture” is even more challenging, as this endowment is underfunded by 90%, leaving the future funding for formation of men for priesthood a grave concern here in the Diocese of Yakima.  

Again this year, as in past years we ask that the elderly priests of the diocese, if possible, be present on the altar at a parish during one or more of the Masses this particular weekend. We are also have asked our seminarians to be present and to be seen (on the altar) at their local parish the weekend of the Special Collection. Many thanks in advance to these men for their cooperation and help in advancing this collection.

Finally, it is our earnest hope that as communities of faith working together, this year we can significantly surpass the contribution level of $147,306 in 2010.

On behalf of Bishop Tyson, I again ask you to enthusiastically support this collection and to robustly exhort your parishioners to give generously to this need. 

Thank you for your help in this most important matter. 

Should you have any questions, please contact me. 

Rev. Brooks F. Beaulaurier
Director of Development and Stewardship
Diocese of Yakima
5301 Tieton Drive Suite A
Yakima, WA 98908
509.965.7117 office 
509.823.3103 mobile