The turning of the calendar to February means Lent is just around the corner. This also means it is the time of year when I will again ask you to make a gift to the Annual Appeal in support of the many charitable works of our Archdiocese. You have been generous in providing for our parish needs. Your support of the Annual Appeal is in many ways an extension of your parish support. It is a critical source of funding for everything from seminarian formation to life and family ministries to pastoral and social outreach, all of which directly or indirectly impacts our parish and local community. At the same time that the Annual Appeal strengthens our parish life, it also unifies us as the Church of Washington in caring for the spiritual and other needs of those beyond our parish boundaries and even outside our Catholic faith. We are able to accomplish together what we could not do on our own. Your gift will be credited towards our 2022 Annual Appeal parish goal of $135,000. I am pleased to inform you that starting this year, 50% of Annual Appeal funds raised over our parish goal will be returned to the parish to enrich our parish ministry life. As in every year, 100% of your gift to the Annual Appeal will be restricted to the ministries that are a part of the Annual Appeal and will not be used for any other purpose. Learn more about the 2022 Annual Appeal at appeal.adw.org. Thank you in advance for your prayerful commitment to the 2022 Annual Appeal. Your steadfast generosity during this time of hardship is not only a source of inspiration for me but also a force for good. I pray that God will continue to bless you and bring you peace and joy. Sincerely Yours in Christ, Fr. John