Catholics in the diocese contributed nearly $183,000 to the fourth annual “Share in the Spirit” tuition assistance collection, held the fourth weekend in September.

Although all reports from the 58 parishes in the diocese were not in, the reported collection amount of $183,868.18 will fall short of the average annual totals for the campaign’s first three years, the diocesan Development Office reported.  Contributions to the special collection from 2005 to 2007 totaled nearly $722,100, an average of more than $240,000 a year.  Last year’s donations totaled $252,513.

The office cited the nation’s weak economy as a reason for the fall-off.

“Families throughout the diocese are struggling, as they are throughout our country,” Bishop Malooly said.  “In these difficult times we are grateful that so many parishioners recognize the importance of this collection and were able to make a contribution.”

Contributions to the annual collection are deposited in the diocese’s “Vision for the Future” education fund, created in the early 1990s to provide financial support to qualified needy Catholic families who cannot afford to pay full tuition in Catholic schools.  This year 451 children representing 303 families are receiving assistance from the fund, according to the diocese.

Members of two parishes in Wilmington made contributions in excess of $10,000 - $13,156.86 from St. Ann’s and $10,547.80 from Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

An analysis of the collection by reporting parishes so far indicates that there are at least eight contributions of $2,500 or more, at least 38 contributions of $1,000 or more, and more than 35 contributions in excess of $500.  The largest contribution was $5,000.  More than 900 parishioners contributed, with the average contribution of $196.68.

For the current school year, the diocese received applications from 946 families that included 1,438 children.  The number of students seeking tuition assistance increased 38 percent from the 1,039 who applied for the 2006-2007 school year.

The Private School Aid Service, which analyzes the applications, advised that more than $1,600,000 in assistance would have been needed to meet the needs of all qualifying families.

Earlier this year the diocese launched a major gifts campaign called “Vision for the Future 2008” to seek $6 million to add to the Vision for the Future Endowment Fund.

The 2009 “Share in the Spirit” tuition assistance collection will be held Sept. 26-27.

For more information about "Share in the Spirit," please contact the Development Office at (302) 573-3121, or via e-mail to Rita Mendoza, Assistant to the Development Director at rmendoza@cdow.org.