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Journey of a Lifetime - How Can I Help?

Father Henry V. Spielmann, O.S.A. (left) celebrates his January 26 birthday. Robert LaFortune, former Mayor of Tulsa. was one of many friends; staff of Cascia Hall, Tulsa, and Augustinian Friars who came together to mark the occasion. Born in 1912, Father Spielmann is the oldest Augustinian of the Midwest. He became an Augustinian in 1932 and was ordained a Priest in 1939. For the next 48 years he taught at Cascia Hall. For most of those years, Father Spielmann worked long hours with low pay and no retirement plan. The Augustinian Guild's Journey of a Lifetime Fund helps to support Father Spielmann, now that he is retired. Your support of the Augustinian Guild will help to ensure that Father Spielmann and other elderly Augustinians are cared for.

Most of us recognize we are part of one human family where every life is very important and every person has equal value. In addition, faith urges us to look at all people with the same kind of love we would give Jesus, if he came to Earth again. Caring for the aged or sick among us is part of that same faith in action.

For frail or elderly Religious and those with mental or emotional handicaps, the world can be an isolated place, and life's options may seem limited.

Your generosity and the dedication of all those who help them can increase their sense of health and dignity significantly - especially when their many needs can be met.

When we Augustinians of the Midwest look at our ill/elderly picture for the 2007-2008 fiscal year that began July 1, 2007, we realize that 63 of our Friars fall within that category. The budgeted expense for these men who either are somewhat ill, seriously ill, or generally healthy but aging is $989,000. A large portion of that amount includes personal costs in nursing homes, supportive care and distinctive medical prodecures not covered by health care insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.

The Journey of a Lifetime trust fund will cover $758,000 of that amount for this year. The National Retirement Fund for Religious annual stipend may provide nearly $55,000 - leaving a shortfall of $176,000. That shortfall will hopefully be made up through the thoughtful and caring support of our donors and friends, and by strictly monitoring all our various budgets as each month passes.

Our Friars who are ill or elderly have served both the Order and the Church faithfully and with great devotion. Some continue to do so in the best way they can. Though age has made many of them more physically dependent, they are still men of prayer. They will continue to remember you and your families when they gather to pray.

Please consider becoming an Annual Fund donor. That can be accomplished easily by making a secure online gift or contributing by mail.

May God bless you and those you love, and may he reward you abundantly for helping us now and in the past.

Contact the Augustinian Guild

If you desire more information or wish to discuss ways in which you can support the men, mission and ministries of the Augustinians, here's how you can contact the Augustinian Guild.

Please note: The Online Giving page is hosted by eTapestry.com (Opens new window) , whose Security and Privacy Policies (.pdf file - new window) apply. Users should be aware that by clicking the Online Giving link, they will go outside the Augustinians of the Midwest site. Information sent via the Online Giving form is protected by Secure Socket Layer (S.S.L.) encryption. We are confident that confidential information can be sent safely using our secure Online Giving form. Thank you.