That is the theme for a fundraising campaign throughout Detroit. The one comforting thing is something Msgr. Robert  McClory our pastor said at one of the masses. He has been so impressed with what is going on at Presentation-Our Lady of Victory and because of that he is pledging $6,000. He was emotional telling us how much he loves being at our church and that he specifically asked to be assigned here. Before he arrived here, the members had come together around the deacon’s daughter in law who was diagnosed with cancer while pregnant with her fourth child. Thanks to all the prayers and help she’s doing fine now. Members started bringing dinners to the family (that was a year ago); the Men of Victory started visiting another member also diagnosed with an illness; one of our young members got in trouble but was saved from a long prison term because Fr. Byrnes, Msgr. McClory, Deacon Sanders and church members packed the court room and parishioners wrote letters to save him and it worked. This is what happens when a people come together and help each other through tough times. This was so impressive to the monsignor that he is now the only thing standing between us and a church closing.

At  the 73^rd Annual Claver Conference last year a young black priest spoke at a prayer breakfast I attended. He said two things that stood out to me. “You have to have a priest for two reasons: to have a voice in your community, and to receive the sacraments.” Having Msgr. McClory has given us both. His commitment to our parish has put my mind at ease and now I plan to make my pledge knowing that someone higher up is fighting for us. So we got the voice and the sacraments. And that is what changed my mind about our future.

As of this writing we are about 98% on the way to reaching our goal of $123,000.00.

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