| 17 June 2010 |
| My dear friends in Christ, |
| June 29 is the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. These two great missionaries are the patrons of the Church of Rome, and so also of the whole Roman Catholic Church throughout the world. Our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, as successor of St. Peter, the first Pope, continues to lead the Church in the mission of our Savior, courageously proclaiming the saving love of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| We also participate in Christ’s mission, with our visible love for the poor. As our Holy Father has reminded us, “God’s love . . . gives us the courage to continue seeking and working for the benefit of all” (Caritas in Veritate, no. 78). For centuries, pious faithful men and women have followed the Bishops of Rome in working for the benefit of all, offering their common prayers and support for works of charity and mercy throughout the world. Our own Diocese of Sioux City contributes as well, this year on the weekend of June 26-27. |
| Peter’s Pence is the primary source of aid that the Holy Father offers to the poorest victims of natural disasters, disease, and violence throughout the world. The Holy Father’s theme for the Peter’s Pence collection this year is “Cast the Love of Christ upon the World.” We in this Diocese are blessed with so much wealth, especially in our families and communities. We should use this spiritual and material blessing to serve Christ, who is our hope, in His Church and His littlest ones. |
| Let us pray this year for all those who feel abandoned and unloved, that they may be embraced by the merciful love of Christ and gain new hope in Him. Let us make a generous offering of our material resources so that the Holy Father can assist all the lost sheep of Christ, especially those most poor and most vulnerable, most in need of Christ’s love. |
| Praying that your faith and hope may always grow in union with the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, who loves each soul indescribably, I am |
| Your brother in Christ, |
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| Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless |
| Bishop of Sioux City |
