K.I.L.L.

Now that is an acronym that grabs attention! It is not what you think though. K.I.L.L. means Keep It Loving and Local referring to the needs of our own neighbors and parish church.

These are tough economic times, no doubt about it. We are in a Depression in which the housing market has literally fallen apart and our states and cities are struggling. Our parishes too are struggling as the donation basket is not filled as it once was.

Those of us who are able can up our donations to our parish to help it survive in order for our priests and people to serve Our Lord. Here are some suggestions:

• Add up how much you spend on your "thirst stop" or "snack stop" each day to buy a coffee, soda, chips, pastry, etc. over the course of the week. Add that amount to your normal weekly gift to the collection and you will not only have helped your parish but you will also likely lose that extra ten lbs. you have wanted to shed. 

• Skip eating out in a restaurant once a week and eat a light soup and sandwich for dinner instead.  Add up how much that restaurant meal normally costs you and add it to the collection basket. Again, better for the parish, better for the waistline.

These are just a few of the ideas we have generated. I am sure each family will have others. Sit down tonight and come up with ways to add to the collection plate at your church. Our pastors are overworked and their collars are thread bare. Let us show our Love and Local giving by remembering to help them financially and with volunteering so that costs may be cut.

If every family in every parish were to add just $1 extra to the collection basket each week, the average parish of 800 families would have $800 to help stem the collection shortfall. That would help fight the rising costs of heating and cooling for the church buildings and the rising cost of food for our already overtired pastors.

The Plain Catholic response to economic depression is to K.I.L.L. it: Keep It Loving and Local. Find a way for every family to add an extra bit to the collection each week as they can. Your waistlines will thank you and so will your pastor.