Diocese launches 2012
Annual Catholic Appeal
The Diocese of Wilmington has launched the 2012 Annual Catholic Appeal, in which Catholics in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore are asked to reflect on their role as Christian stewards and to contribute a portion of their financial resources to support the work of the church in the coming year.
The 2012 diocesan target of $4,220,300 represents a 4 percent increase over the 2011 goal, the Development office announced this week. Funds raised through the Appeal provide the major source of financial support for more that 30 ministries and services that benefit people in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
This year’s target, while greater than the 2011 goal, is still below the amount collected in the previous year’s campaign, the best in the Appeal’s 36-year history. Last year contributions of $4,394,389 from 18,151 donors topped the $4,058,000 goal by more than 8 percent.
In a letter to parishioners, Bishop Malooly articulates the importance of the work that funds raised through the Appeal make possible. “Each year, the Annual Catholic Appeal blesses us with the opportunity to reach out to people in our community who are in great need. Through your support, the Diocese of Wilmington provides thousands of meals each year to the hungry; shelter to the homeless; care to the aged, the handicapped, the addicted, and the emotionally afflicted. It helps to provide religious instruction to eager minds, sponsor wholesome activities for our youth, prepare couples for marriage, welcome the newly arrived on our shores, make chaplains available in hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons, and enables ordained deacons to assist the priests in their service to God’s people.”
Advance solicitation began with Circle of Honor gatherings on Feb. 12 at St. Ann in Wilmington where Bishop Malooly thanked major donors for their 2011 participation and encouraged their continued leadership and support. Other gatherings are scheduled for Feb. 19 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Bear, Feb. 26 at St. John the Apostle in Milford and March 4 at Our Lady of Lourdes in Seaford.
Diocesan leaders emphasize that contributions to the Appeal not only assist individuals and families throughout the diocese with financial, emotional and spiritual needs but also provide the resources to operate diocesan programs and essential services that parishes cannot deliver on their own.
“Catholic Charities exists to help fulfill the Christian duty to love and serve God’s people. This statement is more than just a sentence in our mission statement — it’s the heart and soul of our work,” says executive director Richelle Vible. “To accomplish this work, day in and day out, we need the support of the Annual Catholic Appeal. The funding we receive from donors gives Catholic Charities the ability to provide our services to the most vulnerable in our communities, regardless of a client’s ability to pay. So many of our clients, from those in our Basic Needs and Counseling Programs, to the residents of Bayard House, Casa San Francisco, and Marydale Retirement Village, to those who depend on Seton Center and our Thrift Center, have no where else to turn for the assistance they so desperately need.”
A portion of the monies raised through the Appeal goes to support many diocesan educational programs. “The Annual Catholic Appeal plays an important role in the Office for Religious Education (ORE) and its ability to support several essential ministries,” said Michael Stankewicz, its director. “Because of the Appeal we are able to work with parishes and schools on the important mission of Catholic education by providing religious education programs at the parish level and ensuring that our catechetical leaders are among the finest, supported by ongoing formation and education. The result is that the diocese can offer vibrant parish catechetical programs to both youth and adults crucial to developing Christian foundations in the lives of our faithful as they become fully formed in the doctrines and practices of the Catholic faith.
“Appeal funding also helps sustain ministerial programs to assist members of the deaf community as well as those who have special needs as well as our Catholic Campus Ministry which serves to uphold, educate and serve Catholics in the college community. We are grateful for the Annual Catholic Appeal as it allows the ORE to minister at the multiple catechetical and educational phases of peoples’ lives, no matter where they live, from Wilmington to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and more,” Stankewicz added.
“The Appeal also helps serve constituencies with special needs especially the unborn and elderly, those in hospitals, nursing homes, and correctional facilities” said Msgr. Joseph E. Rebman, secretary of Pastoral Services. “Staff is available to assist those discerning vocations of priesthood, diaconate, religious life and marriage while also serving those in failed marriages to start life anew. Other offices within the department provide programs making it possible for Hispanic, black and Korean Catholics to keep the faith of their ancestors while it also raises awareness of the foreign mission.”
In-pew solicitation will take place during Commitment Weekend, April 21-22. The campaign theme, “Come, Follow Me,” is derived from Matthew’s Gospel 19:21.
Parishioners can learn about the campaign’s purpose and importance in upcoming weeks through The Dialog, special mailings and the diocesan website in addition to parish presentations and bulletin announcements.
The following ministries receive funds from the Annual Catholic Appeal:
- Catholic Education (Campus Ministry, Catholic Schools, Catholic Youth Ministry, Deaf Ministry, Religious Education and Special Needs Ministry)
- High Schools (Padua Academy, St. Elizabeth, St. Mark’s, Ss. Peter and Paul, St. Thomas More Academy)
- Administration and Communications (Annual Catholic Appeal, Office of the Bishop, Office of Public Relations and Media, Priests’ Pension and The Dialog, Catholic Press, Inc.)
- Catholic Charities (Basic Needs Program, Bayard House, Casa San Francisco, Counseling, Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence, HIV Services, Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Program, Marydale Retirement Village, Seton Center and Thrift Center)
- Pastoral Services (Archives, Chancery, Chaplaincies, Hispanic Ministry, Ministry for Black Catholics, Office for Marriage and Family Life, Office of Religious, Office of Worship, Ordained Deacons, Pro-Life Activities and Tribunal)
