The Rev. Richard McDonald said the church is focusing on the needs of the archdiocesan home, according to a church bulletin for Holy Angels Church in Basehor, Kansas.

"This year we focus on needs in our archdiocesan home in building it up by contributing to the once in 20-year Capital Campaign of the Archdiocese and making sure that current needs are met and future generations may be served," McDonald wrote in the church bulletin. "I ask you to pray about giving a sacrificial offering, over time in increments, and to take the time to consider what amount of a pledge, or one-time gift it may be, to the Archdiocese’s One Faith, One Family, One Future in Christ response to those needs. Maybe it is only your prayers that you can afford at this time."

McDonald wrote that holidays may be different this year, but being able to celebrate the end of the year is a gift.

"We naturally want to offer back to Him some treasure from ourselves," McDonald wrote. "In the past, our parish had set up one special charity for Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas seasons to focus our parish on rebuilding Haitian homes, helping out Alexandra House and even helping build a monastery in our archdiocese."

McDonald wrote that it is often that when attempting to do God's will, the devil will thwart Christians.

"At times when we try our darndest to do our best, we may encounter trials, tribulations or at least crosses in our life," he wrote. "We know of this from Holy Scripture and our own experiences."

McDonald also wrote that he has been healing from a chronic illness that recently returned.

"One of the things that we priests are required to do on an annual basis is to take a spiritual retreat for the good of our souls and those around us," McDonald wrote. "It is imperative to break away from routine and focus entirely on God and the Divine in our lives, without the distractions of regular work and living in our own rectories. I had planned on taking a week to do just that recently."

McDonald wrote that he wasn't able to go on the retreat because of his illness and, instead, was forced to take several around-the-clock medications and rest up. He said he should be better soon.