The Catholic Advance from Wichita, Kansas • Page 12

A 12 June 19, 2009 CatholicAdvance around the United States will conduct the Pence Collection, the collection that helps the Holy Father with his charitable works around the world, on June 27-28. The Catholic Diocese of Wichita contributes to this collection through the United Catholic Stewardship fund. The Pence Collection allows the pope to respond quickly to those who face oppression, natural disasters, war and disease. U.S. Catholics traditionally have been among the most generous donors to this collection.

Last year, at St. Cathedral in New York, Pope Benedict XVI called on U.S. Catholics to continue this tradition of solidarity. the traditions of the Church in this country, may you also be the friend of the poor, the homeless, the stranger, the sick and all who suffer. Act as beacons of hope, casting the light of Christ upon the said the pope.

Archbishop John G. Vlazny of Portland, Oregon, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Committee on National Collections, encouraged people to continue to donate generously to the collection. Benedict XVI has explained how those who are baptized create one family of believers who are never alone. The Pence Collection unites us in solidarity to the Holy See and its works of charity to those in need. Your generosity allows the pope to respond to our suffering brothers and sisters with promptness, love, and compassion, so people will not feel alone in their time of The total of funds collected in 2008 for the Pence Collection are expected to be announced by the Vatican in July.

A Vatican estimated that U.S. offerings in 2008 amounted to almost half of the total collection. The 2007 worldwide collection totaled more than $79.8 million. Catholics in the United States were the top donors, contributing more than $18.7 million or about 28 percent of the total. They were followed by Italian Catholics who gave more than $8.6 million and German Catholics who gave more than $4 million.

Examples of initiatives undertaken with assistance of the Pence include emergency relief aid offered through the Council in the wake of natural disasters such as earthquakes and the Boys in Mbare, Rwanda that takes in abandoned orphans, mainly victims of genocide and civil war; and activities of the Populorum Progressio Foundation for peasants and indigenous people in Latin America and of the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel, which sponsors development proj- Your stewardship helps the pope help people around the world The contribution to this collection from the Catholic Diocese of Wichita is made possible through the United Catholic Stewardship process. Perhaps you wish to send a special gift that will be added to what is contributed from the diocese. If so, you can send the check for your special gift in care of Bryan Coulter at the Chancery Of ce, 424 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202. Please make the check payable to the Catholic Diocese of Wichita and indicate the speci collection in the memo area of your check.

Thank you for sharing with our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Pence Collection, an invitation to cast the light of Christ upon the world ects in African Sub-Saharan areas in danger of The Pence Collection derives its name from an ancient custom. In ninth-century England, King Alfred the Great collected or from land owners as support for the pope. Today, the Pence Collection supports the charitable work. Information on the Pence Collection can be found at http://www.usccb.org/ppc/.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Wilberts celebrate 60th wedding anniversary Jim and Marie (Vernetti) Wilbert, members of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Wichita, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Sunday, June 28. The family will attend the 8:30 a.m.

Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church and afterward gather for a champagne brunch at a local restaurant. They were married on June 25, 1949, at Sacred Heart Church, Frontenac. Their children are Steve and Gary of Wichita, and Janet Cox of Garden Plain. They have 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Reyezes celebrate 60 years of marriage ARKANSAS CITY Arky and Eva (Olvera) Reyez celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 4. They were married at Sacred Mr. and Mrs. Suter Suters celebrate 65 years of marriage WICHITA Merrill and Mary Margaret (McCloskey) Suter, members of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Wichita, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on June 16.

They were married at the U.S. Naval base at Cherry Point, N.C., on June 16, 1944. Mr. Suter is a retired major of the U.S. Marine Corps and has worked in real estate.

The have seven children: Merle, John, Robert, Vicki, William Gregory, and Thomas. They also have 30 grandchildren, 37 great- grandchildren, and seven great- great-grandchildren. Heart Church, Arkansas City, on June 4, 1949. After a career with the U.S. Navy and U.S.

Coast Guard, Mr. Reyez retired in 1976. Mrs. Reyez, a floral designer, retired in 1992. They have one daughter, Pamela Larson, and three grandchildren..