2009 Annual Catholic Appeal exceeds its goal
More than $4.1 millon donated and participation up by 6 percent despite
hard times
Despite a struggling national economy, donations to the 2009 Annual Catholic Appeal topped $4 million, exceed-ing the campaign target of $3,978,100 by nearly 4 percent.
Collected contributions as of Jan. 22, the official closing date of the campaign were $4,135,439. That represents 95.46 percent of the $4,332,193 pledged, said Deborah Fols, diocesan development director, whose office oversees the Annual Catholic Appeal.
“We are gratified by the outpouring of love and generosity of the good people of this diocese,” Bishop Malooly said. “Through their support of the Annual Catholic Appeal, they have brought hope and the good news of Christ’s love to thousands of individuals and families throughout our diocese.”
Fols noted two significant measurements in donations to the 2009 campaign. “Overall participation increased by 6.1 percent, from 18,025 donors in 2008 to 19,130, demonstrating parishioners’ broadening commitment to the Appeal’s objectives. The average gift reached $226.46, an amount below the 2008 average of $244.35 but comparable to 2007’s $226.06 average.”
Support from Circle of Honor donors, those who contribute $500 or more, also remained strong, Fols said, with 2,164 donors contributing approximately 52 percent of the campaign’s revenue.
In 2009, 43 parishes exceeded their campaign target. Parishes that top their goal receive a rebate; 50 percent of the amount over the goal goes back to parishes that do not support a parochial school and 100 percent of the excess goes to parishes that do. This year, more than $212,000 will be returned.
The Annual Catholic Appeal supports more than two dozen ministries in the diocese, many of them serving people with significant medical, emotional, educational, and financial needs.
Pastors say that their parishioners contribute to the Appeal because they see that the Appeal enables the diocese to provide services that individual parishes cannot offer on their own.
“In the Bear area there is a wide range of economic levels, from those who have much to those who are suffering. We know that contributions to the Appeal are going to help people in need in our area,” said Father Roger DiBuo, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Father DiBuo said he regularly refers parishioners to counseling services offered by Catholic Charities. Appeal collections from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in 2009 exceeded more than $86,000, topping its the target by 16 percent.
“Our parishioners are smart givers, generous when they know there is a need and that those who are disbursing the funds are good stewards,” said Father Thomas Protack of St. John Neumann in Berlin, Md. St. John Neumann, the newest parish in the diocese, has surpassed its Appeal target in all three years of its existence. Contributions of more than $110,000 this year topped the goal by more than 22 percent.
“There are many things about being a Catholic that you feel good about,” said Father John Hynes, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena in suburban Wilmington. “The things we can’t do as a parish, the diocese does. We can’t provide counseling for all troubled people, we can’t ensure that our kids away at college will have chaplains available to them.” Collections at St. Catherine of Siena exceeded $48,800, more than 4 percent above the parish goal.
“Our folks are committed to the bigger church,” said Father James D. Hreha, pastor of St. Jude the Apostle in Lewes, where Appeal donations of more than $87,500 topped the parish goal by 16 percent.“ Many of our parishioners are retirees, so they have benefited from the blessings of a bigger church for many decades. Many are transplants from other places, so they are aware of the bigger church.”
Details of the 2010 Annual Catholic Appeal will be announced in early March. Commitment Weekend is scheduled for April 17-18.
Here are the programs supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal:
Catholic Education
Catholic Schools educate 11,000 students in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 27 schools. Improved curriculum guides for science and mathematics, introduction of a teacher mentoring program and emphasis on professional development characterize the quality education provided by our Catholic schools.
Catholic Youth Ministry helps parishes meaningfully engage young people in the spiritual life of the community by providing opportunities for spiritual growth, teamwork through athletics and human skill-building events.
Campus Ministry is present on area college campuses to uphold, educate, support and serve the Catholic community, providing a “home away from home” to young adults struggling to grow in mind, body and soul CM lives by six ministerial functions to reflect the Church’s general mission in the world: forming the Faith community through liturgy and prayer; appropriating the faith; forming Christian conscience; educating for justice; facilitating personal development; and developing leaders for the future.
Office for Religious Education promotes vibrant religious education programs in the parishes and schools of the diocese; catechesis addresses all of the adults, youth and children in the diocese; primary services include Catechist Formation programs, workshops for parish leaders, curriculum, accreditation of parish religious education programs, working with the parish directors of religious education, special religious education and ministry with the deaf. Religious education for the Special Needs population is provided at two sites in New Castle County. The diocese also sponsors regular prayer groups based on the L’Arche model for members of the adult Faith and Light community. A chaplain for the Deaf Ministry provides pastoral services including a monthly signed Mass. When needed, interpreters operating through St. Catherine of Siena parish are available for children participating in religious education programs.
Pastoral Services
Institutional Chaplains offer sacramental and other spiritual comfort and services to those in hospitals, nursing homes and correctional facilities. Institutional chaplains are the hands and feet of Christ, bringing healing and strength to those they serve in special corners of the diocese.
Ordained Deacons provide services of preaching, marriage preparation, instruction in the faith and liturgical assistance as they live a vocation of service.
Hispanic Ministry fosters the development of spiritual formation, community building, and social action programs for the diocese’s growing Hispanic population. With two new sites opening on the Eastern Shore this past year, the diocese now offers assistance through 19 parish-based Hispanic Ministry Centers.
Office of Worship implements the vision of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. The office develops and deepens the liturgical life of parishes through support, education and formation of liturgical ministers and other pastoral leaders.
Ministry for Black Catholics explores and implements evangelization efforts needed to uplift the spirits of Catholics of African descent into the family of the body of Christ. The ministry seeks to generate opportunities for Black Catholics to share their gifts with the larger community and participate more fully in the Church as individuals.
Tribunal is a court established by the bishop to administer justice according to the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church. Most cases heard relate to the validity of marriage in the Catholic Church. Priests, deacons, and advocates in the parishes assist those wanting to petition the Tribunal regarding the validity of a particular bond of marriage.
Catholic Charities
Clinical Services provide out-patient therapy, both individual and group, transition planning, crisis intervention, and case management. In New Castle County, specialized behavioral assessments for youth with developmental disabilities are offered.
Bayard House provides residential care and supporting services for pregnant women who are typically experiencing a crisis pregnancy and who are often homeless. Residents are provided secure housing, prenatal medical care, emotional support, and educational opportunities. A mentoring program to teach essential parenting skills is offered through a core of volunteers.
Casa San Francisco in Milton, DE provides emergency shelter for homeless persons, financial assistance for those facing eviction and loss of basic services, food programs, and counseling services for low-income residents of Sussex County.
Catholic Thrift Store provides furniture, gently used clothing, furniture appliances, mattresses and household goods, at no or little cost, to low and moderate income families. The center also serves as a link to many services provided by catholic Charities as well as other local organizations.
Crisis Alleviation Program provides emergency financial assistance for families through rent, mortgage or basic utility grants in order to avert homelessness or loss of essential utilities. Hard-working, low and middle income families are struggling with higher costs for fuel, food and health care, record mortgage foreclosure rates, layoffs and loss of pensions. Those on fixed incomes, especially our senior citizens and those working poor who live paycheck to paycheck, simply cannot absorb these increases.
Family Life Bureau promotes healthy families through a variety of programs including marriage preparation, support groups for the widowed and divorced, domestic violence and anger management networks, abortion counseling, and pro-life programs.
Parish Social Ministry services parishes throughout the diocese through a variety of social justice programs including RCIA, adult education, Youth Ministry presentations on Catholic social teaching, and a variety of social justice topics. A 7-week program, Salt and Light, providing formation in the principles of Catholic social teaching and leadership skills is also offered.
AIDS Ministry is a multi-service program providing emotional, educational, material and emergency financial support to persons living with HIV/AIDS, as well as the families of those infected by the virus.
Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Program assists individuals and families with immigration and citizenship issues as well as those related to their legal status in the U.S. that are causing or may cause family separation and challenges in their personal, social and economic adjustment.
Seton Center is a multi-purpose neighborhood community facility located in a low-income area of Somerset County, MD. The center provides crisis alleviation assistance, children’s programs, community food programs, a thrift shop, and a variety of services to the Hispanic community.
Communications
Office of Public Relations and Media establishes and maintains positive relationships with the secular media. The office distributes news releases, oversees the diocesan website, and produces radio programs with the goal of advancing a greater understanding of the Church, Church teachings, diocesan and parish ministries and services, and the Bishop’s priorities.
The Dialog is the official newspaper of the diocese, reporting local, national, and international Church news as well as features about people who embody Gospel values. The weekly paper presents editorials and instructive opinions on matters of the faith and is the bishop’s chief form of communicating with and teaching the people of the diocese. The Dialog is distributed each week to more than 55,000 homes.
