sfca-annual-report

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, In South Africa, where I was born, the songs of praise to God that fill the churches offer a foretaste of the choirs of heaven. Therefore, I am delighted that the 91 grants you made possible in 2022 through your generous donations to the Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa included a grant subsidizing a new Catholic hymnal for the Xhosa people of South Africa. The Solidarity Fund empowers Catholics who are materially poor to use the rich spiritual gifts that God has given them for his service and glory. As chairman of the Subcommittee on the Church in Africa for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I can attest that you helped African Catholics to use their gifts in many ways in 2022. If you have never been blessed to hear—and see!—Xhosa song, you are missing a magnificent experience. Two centuries ago, Xhosa Christians began creating hymns in their own language and style, in which song is unimaginable without moving to the mu sic. The previous Xhosa hymnal was out of stock, and it needed an expanded selection of hymns and liturgies. The updated edition you made possible through your contributions includes those new songs and liturgies that will bring Xhosa praises to a new generation. Though music may seem a mission very different from financial management, they both contribute to the vibrancy of the Church. A church administration grant from the Solidarity Fund for the Diocese of Buta in the Democratic Republic of Congo reflects the importance of financial transparency and strong organizational systems as a foundation for diocesan activities. In an isolated, impoverished region, you are helping to create a culture of responsible administration of church assets, so that the faithful can trust that the Church is using their gifts to promote the well-being of the Church and the people it serves.