Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, grace and Peace to each of you!

Where do we turn when we are restless or anxious or looking for understanding? Where do we turn when we are searching for certainty, for direction, for purpose in our lives? These are but a few questions that cause to search for answers, a direction, a purpose, a focus in life. As Christians, a very clear proposal is made to us.

Jesus gives us the answer: “I am the Way.”

Christ is the Way! Our Diocesan Annual Appeal, also known as Catholic Charities and Communities, is one important way that we walk that path together.

Through your generosity and solidarity, we accompany people as they discover and deepen their faith. We provide a critical safety net through Catholic Social Services and our Centers of Concern for an untold number of people looking for a way forward for themselves personally, or their marriages, or their families. We proclaim Christ as a sign of hope and freedom in our culturally diverse communities. We strengthen Catholic education and catechetical faith formation leaders to form young people in faith, excellence, and a truly Catholic spirit – that is, to know the Way. These are but a few examples and too long for me to enumerate here.

In all these ways, and more, the Diocesan Annual Appeal helps me, as your bishop, to carry out more concretely the essential mission entrusted to me: to serve the people of God in our growing diocese as a communion of the Christian faith.

And every year, for the past six years, you have been there. Every year, you have answered my call. Thank you, most sincerely.

Your generosity makes us more than individual parishes or organizations scattered across central and northern Alabama. It makes us one faith family, with Christ at the center Who is our source, our summit, our hope, and our Way.

It is no wonder that in the Acts of the Apostles, the early Christian community was referred to as “the Way.” We are part of the same reality today in our many parishes, schools, social service agencies, centers of concern and other institutions and associations. Whenever we share our resources for the good of mission, we are walking together to make the Way of Christ even more visible and effective. Others who saw what was happening, noticed a zeal, a fervor, an enthusiasm, and a satisfaction that couldn’t be found anywhere else.

What happens when we do so? We lift each other up. We accompany one another. We become partners in mission: a joyful band of missionary disciples bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to others.

So, I invite you to pray about becoming a partner in mission through this year's Diocesan Annual Appeal campaign. Every gift helps to provide a value added to every person we serve.

Our campaign begins the last Sunday of September. I ask you to join us and help make this our best year ever.

Thank you for your generosity in the past, and thank you in advance for your continued partnership in mission.

Let’s keep one another in our prayers and lift up those we serve to the Lord’s mercy and care.

More information will be forthcoming through our One Voice print and digital editions and through your local parish.

And remember, when we are looking for an answer to the meaning of my life, Christ is the Way.

May God bless you and your families, and may God bless the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama.

To learn more about the appeal, please visit catholiccharitiesbhm.org.