Father Pfleger launches ‘Beacon of Hope’ campaign

Says violence way down in Auburn Gresham

Goal is to raise $200,000

By Chinta Strausberg

Believing first in maintaining fiscal order internally before reaching out to partner in faith with others, Father Michael L. Pfleger late Wednesday night announced he is launching the “Beacon of Hope” campaign designed to raise more than $200,000 needed to continue Saint Sabina’s fiscal independence in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Ordained a priest on May 14, 1975, Pfleger became the youngest full pastor in the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1981 when at the age of 31 he was appointed full pastor at Saint Sabina—a church that was supposed to close in a few months. That didn’t happened only because of Pfleger’s love and commitment to make Saint Sabina a model church for the entire nation. It appears his wish has become true, but the work is far from done.

“I am so proud to be a part of Saint Sabina,” said Pfleger during a Parish Council meeting held in the McMahon Hall where hundreds listened to his report.

In talking to the Sixth District police officials, Father Pfleger said since September of 2012, the violence in the Auburn Gresham community has drastically decreased. “No other police beat in the city has had that kind of drop in violence.”

Pfleger was referring to September 15, 2012 when he struck a peace accord with four rival gangs in the community then went one step further in getting the youth to play in a peace tournament on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at Saint Sabina’s ARK, 7800 South Racine in Chicago.

Father Pfleger is anxiously awaiting his second annual peace basketball tournament Saturday, September 21, 2013, at the ARK where he will be joined by even more NBA stars than last year—stars like Chicago’s Joakim Noah, legendary NBA Isiah Thomas, Taj Gibson, NBA champion Craig Hodges, Antoine walker; Detroit’s Will Bynum, Boston’s Avery Bradley; Memphis’ Zach Randolph; Charlotte’s Jannero Pargo and so many others including more NBA surprise visits.

Though the peace tournament is nine-days away, Pfleger said the BBC has arrived in Chicago and other national networks to indicating their desire to cover the historic event. Pfleger said ESN would be present ant that “around the country, we are being recognized” for achieving peace in a holistic manner.

According to Pfleger, other cities around the country have reached out to Saint Sabina to study the peace plan.

He was referring to his weekly peace marches of 2012 where initially young black men would retreat when they saw Pfleger and his supporters marching throughout the community. When Pfleger began bringing people like Thomas and Noah around they gravitated around the vision for peace and after the September 15, 2012 agreement, peace continues in the community.

And, Pfleger said the Faith Community of Saint Sabina was able to achieve this by planting seeds of hope and respect of young men society has labeled throwaways. “We don’t call them gangs. We called them our sons and daughters, and now our program is recognized all across the world,” said Pfleger. He also attributes the success to the young brothers who have been outreach workers for Saint Sabina on a daily basis.

And, the success for Saint Sabina continues including in the increased student enrollment at Saint Sabina’s Academy and the hiring of more than 1100 youth this summer between the ages of 16-24. “We were the highest employer of youth in the state of Illinois,” Pfleger said thanking Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-16^th) for securing funds for many of the church’s programs from the state.

But the thanks didn’t stop with Collins. Father Pfleger thanked the city of Chicago for getting the jobs and his staff that went beyond the pale in serving the youth and the 187 work sites where the youth worked.

“People made personal sacrifices,” he said explaining there are so many testimonies to attest to the staff’s hard work. “Some say they would not be here if it had not been for the church. We do great stuff here. People come from all over to see our worship…. They come to us for help and direction every single day.

“One day at 6:30 a.m. when I came downstairs, I found a young person sleeping at the front door. He needed help and a place to stay,” he recalled but warned, “We cannot get used to or ride on our success” with so much more work to be done.

“We are experiencing a financial challenge right now,” said Pfleger. He was referring to the Sunday’s plate collection—the same mode of financing that pulled the church out of debt when he took over the reigns of the church.

“We have been debt free…financially independent from the Archdiocese since 1989,” Pfleger said. “We want to strengthen our membership, bring in new membership by reaching out” and not only bringing in new members but to ensure that each member pay their tithes. He understands that some have lost their jobs, which have negatively affected Sunday’s collections.

Pfleger believes in looking internally for possible budget cuts before reaching out to others including pay reductions, a cut in staff and/or consolidations of services.

Pfleger is also reaching to others on the outside who believes in the mission of Saint Sabina to help raise funds for Saint Sabina’s ministries, but Pfleger made it clear that “I do not believe we should become a welfare church. We have to do our part. We have to stand up and show” that the church will do its part in keeping Saint Sabina financially solvent.

“We are looking for partners of faith,” he said explaining that this could help raise the goal of $200,000 needed to remain solvent.

And, that is why on Sunday, September 15, 2013, he is announcing the “Beacon of Hope” campaign names so because he said Saint Sabina has been a beacon of hope for Chicago and beyond. “We have to keep it up” which is why on Sunday, October 20, 2013, Pfleger is asking his members to make a “sacrificial” offering “from our youngest to our oldest and for anybody who identifies with being a member of Saint Sabina,” he stated.

“I believe Saint Sabina is good soil,” he said repeating the need for the church to take care of itself first before reaching out to others for assistance.

“Since 1989, we paid our debt to the Archdiocese. We have been financially independent from the Archdiocese since 1989. I want to make sure that Saint Sabina is strong and stable for generations to come,” he told the Parish Council but made it clear his appeal for financial help does not stop at the Council but to the church and its supporters.

“I want our children’s children” to remember what Saint Sabina members did not just in the 1960’s, the 1970’s but also the 1990’s and 2000’s. That, he said, is the legacy he wants to leave for Saint Sabina—a legacy he calls “rich” and one that will last well past the deaths of current members.

That is why the “Beacon of Hope,” financial campaign is so important. “We are going from payday-to-payday right now,” explained Pfleger admitting he is walking on faith “We have been blessed to have people around the country who believe in us to support us. Just this week, wee received $23,000 in much needed food for the church’s social service center.” Pfleger is thanking God for that miracle.

Pfleger wants to be unshackled from his current debt. He is hoping for a repeat of the 1980’s when the plate collection succeeded in getting the church out of debt. Referring to his initial arrival at the church, Pfleger said, “We depended on Bingo and Las Vegas Night. We ended that” and thanks to the Sunday plate collection the church got out of debt.

“I cannot ask outsiders without first asking the inside” to help retire this debt, said Pfleger who reflected on the year’s road to peace in the community. “Some child did not get killed because of something we did,” he told the Parish Council. “This is why we must continue to be a beacon of hope.”

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.