Cristo Rey Parish, Lansing at 201 West Miller Road, Lansing, MI 48911-4639 US - "A Testimony from the Heart"
| "A Testimony from the Heart" |
“Valente & I have been members of the Catholic church all of our lives. We have been members of Cristo Rey Church for 34 years. During our lifetime we have received so many blessings from God. We have been blessed with family and friends. Our life has not always been easy. But without God we could not even be. We have always given to the Church, even when times were tough financially As we were reminiscing we remembered that whenever Valente got paid the first thing he would do was put money in the Offertory envelope. Then we would take out money for the bills, then the food. Last and if any was left over we saved for us and for our children for those things that we would need for school and for home. There were many times when Valente would end up with $1.00 - $5.00 in his wallet and no money in our savings account by the time we paid off what we needed to pay off and this would last until next pay day. I remember a time when payday seemed so far away and I would be tempted to use the money that was in the church envelope for something the kids or I needed. But I never did. I could not take back what we had already decided we would give to God. After a few years I began to notice that we had now $5.00 to $10.00 left over. Then later $10.00 - $20.00. We didn’t feel the preasure of ‘what can I not pay in order to pay this or another unexpected bill.’ Sometimes we even had enough to splurge and take the kids out to eat at a fast food place or order pizza one time a week. ‘The change was gradual’. As we looked back we saw that our contributions never failed. If we went away for the weekend to see my family, Valente always put in the envelope in the following Sunday’s offering ahead of time. If we went on vacation the same was done. Then we would bring in our contributions to Mass the First Sunday we were back. We always gave to God First. Then our bills, Then Us. We also noticed that during this time, because we were going though a stronger relationship with Our God, that He provided for us all we really needed. How could we deny Him the honor of giving back to Him for all that He did for us? Money just wasn't enough. We could not just come to Mass and leave. We had to give of ourselves...At the beginning we got really nervous because our children were very small. But I always remember Sr. Maria de Los Angeles saying, "Give to God and He will take care of your family." I have learned that this is very true for our children have been blessed also. As I saw that even though Valente and I have never been people of money, we never seemed to lack anything. We owe our Father so much that I can't even imagine not giving back to him the money, time, talents, and resources that we thought we never had, but He had given us. We give because God loves us even though many times we are unlovable. We consider it an honor and a privilege to give to the Catholic Church where Valente and I received all of our Sacraments, and we especially give to Cristo Rey because this is where our children have been Baptized, received their First Communions and Confirmations and even one has been married here. God and his people through the Catholic Church and especially Cristo Rey has prayed and cried for and with us and our loved ones, has forgiven us, educated us, has loved us, has accepted us, has shaped us, has been there for us. How can we not give back?