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3,129 students this year have STO donors to thank!STO tuition awarding for the 2022-23 school year was finalized in October, and nearly 37% of all students attending our Archdiocesan schools received STO assistance. In addition, the average award amount increased by $229/year to $1,626. Thank you to our 2021 donors who turned taxes into tuition while helping shape the future for these income-qualifying families. However, the pace of donations for 2022 has slowed, so… Will fewer students receive STO assistance next year? The STO and the students we serve with tuition assistance greatly need your help right now. For many families, the expense of Catholic school tuition is on the table as they discuss ways to make ends meet. If you’ve been a donor, won’t you please donate today, or if you’ve never donated, would you please consider helping keep enrollment and participation strong at our Catholic schools? Appreciated Securities and year-end givingAs we come to year-end, please know that there are recommended deadlines for donating appreciated securities. Our preference is to receive stock donations before mid-December to have time to value the securities and process the contribution. Remember that if you initiate a stock transfer in December, we always recommend you check our website OurFaithSTO.org to verify the availability of credits. |
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Bosco Catholic Receives 2022 “Embracing Inclusion Award” |
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![]() b.zeman@dbqarch.org (563) 556-2580, ext. 296 or visit OurFaithSTO.org |
Together November 2022
Together October
Together September
Gender: Bend but Don’t Break
A message to the faithful of the archdiocese from Archbishop Michael Jackels
24 October 2022
Gender: Bend but Don’t Break
The discussion
There are some children, youth and adults who suffer from the feeling that their body
doesn’t match where they see themselves internally along a broad, non-binary sexual
spectrum.
Who knows why people experience that, but the suffering they experience is real, and they
deserve to be met with respect and compassion, and helped to find relief.
Advocates of gender theory say they can find relief by choosing their gender, and how they
express that choice, even to the point of changing their bodies to correspond to that choice.
People who identify themselves as transgender sometimes express themselves with a new
name, preferred pronouns or wardrobe, and anticipate that others will respect that choice.
That is a challenge for those who embrace the Catholic worldview, especially in terms of
understanding the human person and human sexuality.
The Catholic worldview
Catholics are guided by the Holy Spirit, who Jesus promised will lead us into all truth (John
16:13). That guidance is given through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.
We believe that God created humans in the Divine Image, as male or female, which is both
a given and a gift, and having an inherent dignity (Genesis 1:27).
The sexual difference between male and female speaks to their responsible cooperation with
the Creator to increase the number of the human race (Genesis 1:28).
The sexual difference also speaks to the complementarity between woman and man, finding
in each other an equal and a suitable partner in marriage (Genesis 2:20-24).
In our human nature we enjoy free-will, which isn’t a limitless autonomy, but circumscribed
by the sovereign will of God (Genesis 2:17).
Our first parents violated those boundaries by trying to commandeer the sovereignty of
God, resulting in our soul and body feeling divided (Genesis 3:5).
One form of that divide is feeling shame when naked (Genesis 3:7). Others may feel it as a
disconnect between their chosen gender and their body.
Conclusion
Catholics must respect the dignity that every person enjoys, assure them that they are
loved by God and us, and protect them from harm, and certainly not be the cause of it.
1229 Mount Loretta Avenue • Dubuque, Iowa 52003-7286
Phone (563) 556-2580 • www.DBQArch.org
But at this point in the gender discussion, we aren’t able to go along with the idea that
people can choose and change their gender, rather than see it as a fact of nature.
We aren’t sticks-in-the-mud. We’re open to other perspectives, to see if we might find truth
there, or to seek common ground, or to promote acceptance, even if we don’t agree.
Others may consider Catholics unenlightened, but we too deserve respect when in our
various ministries we aren’t able to accommodate someone’s preferred gender expressions.
What we can do though is imitate Jesus: accompany transgender people, feel their pain,
listen to their story, tell them another side of the story, share life and love with them (Luke
24:13).
Michael O. Jackels
Archbishop of Dubuque
STO Matters
![]() Watch our latest video to see why the STO Matters! STO Matters! The Our Faith School Tuition Organization is in the business of changing lives. Your donations profoundly affect students, families, our schools, and the Church. (Not to mention your Iowa income taxes) Please watch our newest video titled “The STO Matters” to glimpse how a donation to the STO isn’t just good for your taxes but has a much more significant impact. Please watch until the very end to watch a “pay it forward” story likely to impact Catholic education for years to come!Gifts of Grain make excellent STO Donations!It’s harvest time, and did you know that Gifts of Grain to the STO are eligible for the 75% Iowa income tax credit? The gift should be from unsold crop inventory with no prior sale commitment and can be gifted when delivered to the elevator. A form must be signed by an elevator representative at the time of delivery to verify your donation. The form can be found at Ourfaithsto.org/donate-now.Should you have questions about this method of donation, please contact the STO at 563-556-2580 x296 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() b.zeman@dbqarch.org (563) 556-2580, ext. 296 or visit OurFaithSTO.orgUnsubscribeThe Archdiocese of Dubuquecontactus@dbqarch.org ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() b.zeman@dbqarch.org (563) 556-2580, ext. 296 or visit OurFaithSTO.orgUnsubscribeThe Archdiocese of Dubuquecontactus@dbqarch.org |