In the weeks after Easter, the Church annually looks at the Scripture passages describing the early life of the Church. Combined with the extra-Biblical records and sources, we can answer the question, how did those first disciples live out their new faith in Jesus?

We are told that, “they devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” (Acts 2:42).

Through the teaching of the Apostles, the faithful reflected upon the words of Jesus as well as His deeds. The Apostles, those closest to Jesus and trained by Him, laid the groundwork for the reflection on and implementation of the life of Jesus for the Church.

The followers of Jesus led a “communal” life. They saw that Jesus called His followers not to be individual believers who happened to associate with each other.

Rather, we are called to be the Church, God’s Holy People. We need to be together to live that reality and to draw and offer support to confront life’s challenges to faith.

At the heart of that new life were the prayers and the Mass. We are told that the early Church continued the Jewish practice of prayers in the temple, but they lived a new reality. That was to gather each Sunday, the day of the Resurrection, to celebrate the Mass.

What astonished the wider world greatly was an additional element of the life of those first believers. They were “of one mind and heart” (Acts 4:32). And this was lived out in personal charity but also in earthly generosity. They cared for the poor so that “There was no needy person among them” (Acts 4:34).

The life of the early Church was not an anomaly that soon disappeared. It set the framework and the tone for the life of the Church today. Our gathering at Mass, our study of the teaching of the Church and our common support for each other are signs of the Jesus among us today.

So too has the generosity of the Church, both to the poor and to the mission of spreading the Gospel been a constant reality in every age. As I complete my fifth year as Bishop of Rockford, I am constantly reminded of the generosity here at home.

Each year at this time, in the Diocese of Rockford, we undertake the annual Diocesan Appeal. And each year, the Catholic faithful give generously and participate in assisting the poor and the mission of the diocese. Thanks to each and every one who has contributed in the past.

This year, the theme of the Appeal is “The Lord is With Us.” That phrase reminds us that our faith and especially our generosity is done with Christ and for Him.

Your contributions help to feed the hungry and support efforts to overcome poverty throughout the diocese, especially through our diocesan Catholic Charities with offices in Belvidere, McHenry and Aurora. Our St. Elizabeth Catholic Community Center in Rockford hosts programs for children as well as clothing and food distributions.

The appeal strengthens our work in one of the areas of greatest need in the Church and our society of our day. That is, the strengthening of families and marriage through the work of our Life and Family Evangelization Office. That same office arranges visible and popular outreach among our young people including the Youth Summit and the trip to Washington to participate in the annual March for Life.

The appeal also contributes to the passing on of our Catholic faith through the work of our Catholic Education Office. Your contributions help us to strengthen our Catholic schools and religious education programs, as well as providing for on-going training in faith and excellence for our principals, teachers, and catechists.

I would not want to fail to mention the help that your donations give to assist the formation of the next generation of priests. The excellent training given to our seminarians, underwritten by such donations, will bear great fruit in the years to come.

Yes, Christ is with us. And we, for our part continue the work of Easter, the work begun by the early Church after Christ’s ascension.

I ask that again this year, you please be as generous as possible. Be it great or small, prayer or treasure, thank you for your participation in the 2017 Diocesan Appeal.