BIRTHDAY PROGRAM

I know a woman who, every time she celebrates her birthday, gives her mother a gift! What a beautiful way of thanking the person who brought her into this world. Our own birthday each year is a good occasion to thank God for the gift of life and faith – to thank Him for the years that are past and to ask Him to bless the years to come.
Here's an idea for your next birthday! In thanksgiving for the gifts of life and faith that you have received from God would YOU like to give a return gift to GOD on your next birthday as one small sign of your love for Him and as a way of joining us in our mission?

Indian Example
While working in India some years ago, I met many people (Muslims and Hindus as well as Christians) who supported our work of training young Indian men to become SMA missionary priests for Africa by contributing 100 rupees ($2.20) each year. This doesn't sound very much – but it was actually a day's salary for many people at that time. Most of our Indian supporters did not have bank accounts, credit cards etc., and had to live on whatever they earned every week, so one day's salary was actually a very generous gift! We showed our appreciation by offering special prayers for them - especially on their birthdays. And we sent them a birthday card! I was impressed by their generosity and I liked the idea of linking their donation to their birthdays. Our Indian SMA continues this program and the number of supporters continues to increase. I am now extending the invitation to you.

Would you be prepared to make a donation – perhaps even a day's salary – every year on your birthday to help us train our priests for the work of evangelizing Africa?

If you would like to make a Birthday Pledge…

* Print and fill-in the attached form and return it to Fr Pat Kelly SMA, SMA Fathers, 23 Bliss Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670, USA

* Make your check payable to SMA International Development Office. In the USA the SMA is a registered charity (for tax purposes).

* Donors outside the USA can send a Euro or Sterling Cheque or a US$ Bank Draft or contact me at: interdev@smafathers.org

* I will send you a card every year to greet you, to remind you of your pledge and to update you on our work. You will be remembered in our community prayers and especially at Mass on your birthday.