Bishop encourages all of the faithful to pray for success of TOGETHER
A conversation with Bishop Michael O. Jackels

The faithful of the Diocese of Wichita continue to show tremendous support for the TOGETHER vision through their financial gifts but also through prayer and song and words of support.

When I recently visited St. Cecilia Parish in Haysville, I was inspired by some very special words of support for the TOGETHER vision. They were special, not because they were unique or somehow more or less significant than others but because their authors represent the future of our Church. And TOGETHER is a vision for the future of our Diocese.

Some of these words were written in marker or crayon; others were typed neatly with hand-drawn illustrations. They spoke of a unified Church and promised gifts of prayer and service and even some money to benefit the needs of our diocesan family.

Two colorful banners hung in the parish hall for all to read. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) class had created one, and the students of Mr. Butler’s fifth-grade class had created another.

These children wrote about how they are participating in the TOGETHER vision by praying daily, serving others and sharing the gifts that God has given them.

As I have traveled these last few months, I have often been greeted with banners or songs from the youth of our Diocese. Our Catholic school and PSR students continue to show support for Catholic formation programs, for seminarian education and for our Cathedral campus. But they also demonstrate their knowledge of the stewardship way of life and the communion shared across our diocesan family.

Recently, the students of Holy Name Catholic School in Winfield stood side-by-side to form a living rosary as they prayed for the spiritual and material success of the TOGETHER vision. And like the children of Haysville, Chanute, Coffeyville and Fredonia, the Winfield students found ways to boldly demonstrate to their parish family and our diocesan family how they can participate in the TOGETHER vision.

They prayed.

They shared words of support.

And they shared the gifts that God has given them.

These children are examples to the rest of us to take a part in this work because we recognize ourselves as a part of this larger diocesan church family.

Please follow in the footsteps of these students and continue to pray the Hail Mary daily for the spiritual and material success of the TOGETHER vision.

I am confident that God has begun this good work, and in listening to the prayers of children and adults alike, God will bring this vision to a happy completion.
May it be so. Amen.

Pray for TOGETHER

Bishop Jackels has asked for one Hail Mary daily:

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us, who have recourse to thee.

Goals of the TOGETHER vision
• Strengthen the oneness between parish and diocese.
• Deepen our practice of stewardship as a way of life, sharing responsibility for the mission of the Church.
• Invite everyone to help fund seminarian education, Catholic formation programs and a renovation of the Cathedral campus.

Where will Bishop Jackels visit next?
Bishop Michael O. Jackels continues his TOGETHER vision visits. Here is a schedule for the next few weekends.
Feb. 19-20: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Wichita
Feb. 26-27: Sacred Heart, Colwich
Mar. 5-6: Holy Spirit, Goddard
Mar. 19-20: St. Joseph, Andale