Dear Lay Apostles,

I am writing about our project of completing the purchase of Holy Trinity Abbey. We do not have the complete purchase price as of this date and the Board of Directors of Direction for Our Times - Ireland has decided that at this time we will not seek to finance the remaining funds. We feel it is better to raise the funds before we complete the transfer of the property.  We do this to protect the primary operations goal, which is to translate and disseminate the written works.

We continue to work closely with the Norbertine priests at the Abbey and they have graciously given us an extension of time until June 30, 2009, during which we hope to finish raising the necessary funds.

For most of us, a large financial donation is not possible. Our new project manager, Larry Pauly, has developed an idea for a campaign by which those of us with little money can donate a little bit for four months. He calls this campaign the Four by Forty. I think it is excellent because it will enable each of our small contributions to be joined together in a meaningful way. Some can give more, of course, and some will not be able to give even the smaller amount but in the middle, we will have the power of all the lay apostles contributing to the completion of God's plan.

I am at peace that the Abbey project is proceeding as it should in that we have done all we have been asked. We have unity on our Direction for Our Times - Ireland Board and with the Norbertine priests. The Lord will see to the rest in His time.

Your sister in Christ,
Anne, a lay apostle
December 5, 2008

Over the past several months, we have raised funds needed to purchase Holy Trinity Abbey. Many of you have been very generous and we thank you. We are making progress but we are not there yet. Economic conditions have made it difficult for some and we join in prayer for those who are suffering financially at this time.  The vast majority of us, as lay apostles, do not have the means to make large donations, and yet our hearts are committed to the Lord’s plan at the Abbey. Upon consideration, what may work is a series of four small donations. If most of us gave four donations of forty dollars/euros each, we could complete the purchase of the Abbey

Can you consider donating $40/€40 per month for the next 4 months? Some of us may not have the means to do even this much but that is okay because perhaps others can give a little more over the four months.

In the meantime, we are working with the Norbertine priests at the Abbey, who regularly welcome our pilgrims. The priests are committed to the Lord’s plan for the Abbey and will be remaining on in ministry even after the transfer of the property. They have graciously given us a six-month extension so that we can raise the funds. The Lord’s plan is proceeding. With God’s grace and participation from all of us, we can complete this project as the Lord intends.

Think of it, each of us comes from a separate life and condition to unite in this effort. What we will accomplish together is far greater than any one of us could accomplish alone.

With permission, we will add each of our names to the Record of Abbey Donors. This will be a permanent list of all the lay apostles who supported the purchase of Holy Trinity Abbey. 

You can participate in one of two ways:

1. You can donate at our web site via credit card:

   Click here to donate in United States dollars
   
   Click here to donate in Euros
   
   and enter your gift electronically.

OR


2. You can go to this web page and print a donation form.  You can then mail that form with your credit card information or your first check to us at the appropriate address indicated there.

All of us and all of our intentions will be prayed for daily at the Abbey.