Each year, the Diocese of Sacramento sends us a movie or audio about the needs in our diocese such as helping the poor within our parishes, helping Catholic schools, seminarians, etc.

Each parish contributes to this effort. So far, our parish of Sacred Heart and its mission of Saint James has faithfully supported this effort. I ask you again to give generously. If you have not contributed to the Annual Catholic Appeal in the past, please prayerfully think about it: we all need to get involved especially during this economic crisis. "What you did to the least of my brethren, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).The 2012 commitment weekend is Febru-ary 11-12.

Twenty-five percent of all donations to the ACA is returned to our parish to help the needy among us. We are grateful to Julie O'Malley for maintaining records so that we can show them to you when needed. Remember 25% of our contribution comes back to our parish.

In 2011 throughout the Diocese of Sacramento, 18,763 people contributed $2,983,665 to the ACA. Sacred Heart's pledge for 2011 was $11,575. We received $3,704. This amount repre-sents three-fourths of 2011 and includes the last payment of 2010. We didn't receive the last payment of 2011 yet. We used our 25% return to help the poor and needy in the following ways:

Power: $1,975; Walk for Life: $50; Bus tickets: $80; Rent help: $825; Water bill: $255; Car fuel: $70; Hotel: $50; Kerosene heat: $315. The total spent was $3,620; and we helped 22 families.