ATLANTA - The Atlanta Archdiocese is asking all its Catholics to prayerfully consider making a contribution to the 2003 Archdiocesan Annual Appeal, to enable it to reach its $5 million goal to sustain ministries and programs across North Georgia.
All funds raised will directly benefit the programs and ministries listed below.
"It is essential that we meet our $5 million goal in order to sustain and/or grow our programs or ministries," said director of development Ansley Murphey.
She said that this year the archdiocese is stressing the need for increased participation by Catholics and encouraging including this as part of their stewardship of treasure for the year 2003.
"I'd like to thank the people that have made a contribution and to encourage those who have not, to consider doing so this month either through a one-time gift or a pledge over a period of months," she said. "We are as grateful for a one-time $25 gift as we are a $500 pledge . . . Obviously the more people who contribute and the more support we have, the greater the chance we meet our goal. Currently we have pledged $2.5 million and we're at 50 percent of our goal."
Letters from Archbishop John F. Donoghue were sent Dec. 2 to families who have not yet participated, and pledge envelopes should also be available at all churches for those not receiving them by mail. All parishes have individual goals that together make up the $5 million combined goal. By making a gift to the appeal one is also helping his or her parish reach the individual parish goal, as each church will receive credit for its parishioners' donations.
In an appeal brochure the archbishop said, "We gather together to pray and work for His kingdom among us. Our Archdiocesan Annual Appeal is one very practical way in which we share in this ministry."
"Please be assured that as in the past, the funds raised for the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal will be used solely for the programs and ministries listed," he added. "I strongly encourage every Catholic in our archdiocese to participate in this year's Annual Appeal by making a gift in thanksgiving for the bountiful blessings God has bestowed upon you and your family."
The following are the ministries and programs supported by the Annual Appeal.
- The Office of Vocations facilitates the ongoing discernment process for those interested in becoming candidates for priestly formation. Over the past 10 years, the archdiocese has continued to have some of the highest numbers of men studying for the priesthood, and this year is sponsoring 49 men in formation. The Office of Vocations will receive $1,450,000.
- The Eucharistic Renewal initiated by Archbishop Donoghue in 1994 will receive $56,000.
- In campus ministry, the archdiocese subsidizes the costs of operating three Catholic Centers on area college campuses. Campus ministry will receive $187,000.
- The Hispanic Apostolate fosters unity between Hispanic and Anglo communities in the 49 parishes with Spanish Masses, as well as offering two weeks of formation yearly and an annual retreat for lay persons. The Hispanic Apostolate will receive $180,000.
- The Office of Ministry with Persons with Disabilities advocates full inclusion into the life of the church for those with disabilities by providing individualized services and programs. The ministry will receive $66,000.
- Through mission development, the archdiocese subsidizes financially struggling missions and smaller parishes on an as-needed basis to help them meet the pastoral needs of their communities. Mission development will receive $309,000.
- The Office for Black Catholic Ministry supports the clergy with the spiritual needs of the black Catholic community. The office will receive $115,000.
- The permanent diaconate formation program prepares men for the permanent diaconate at the St. Stephen Center for Diaconate Studies. Currently there are 76 men in the five-year formation program and 127 active deacons. The formation program will receive $72,000.
- The Religious Education/Faith Formation Department serves the archdiocese by assisting with age-appropriate religious education in English and Spanish to pastors and staff; offering assistance to parishes with sacramental formation; delivering direct programs for segments of the archdiocese as a whole; and providing catechetical formation and certification services. The department will receive $672,000.
- The Office of Catholic Schools assists each of 15 archdiocesan Catholic elementary schools and three archdiocesan Catholic secondary schools through centralized activities such as monthly principals' meetings, in-service opportunities, curriculum writing sessions, technology support and child psychological services. The Office of Catholic Schools will receive $420,000.
- Catholic Charities is the umbrella organization for specialized Catholic social services. Catholic Housing Initiatives, Inc., manages two independent retirement communities, Good Shepherd Place in Cumming and St. Joseph Place in Atlanta. Catholic Personal Care Homes, Inc., maintains three licensed personal care homes, Marian Manor, St. Thomas Manor and St. Teresa Manor, where elderly residents receive moderate assistance as needed while living independently. Village of St. Joseph Child and Adolescent Counseling offers individual or family counseling helping children and parents deal with anger, depression, grief, divorce, phobias, substance abuse, identity issues and general behavior problems. The HIV/AIDS Ministry assists parishes in establishing their own ministries by providing support and resources such as workshops, speakers and educational programs. Catholic Charities will receive $450,000.
- Project Aware provides educational programs and resources to increase awareness of and appropriate response to child abuse for families, parish staffs, church volunteers and the Catholic community as a whole and for agencies for the archdiocese. Project Aware will receive $45,000.
- The Pro-Life Office develops, trains and supports parish pro-life committees and acts as an archdiocesan resource for information on pro-life issues. The Pro-Life Office will receive $116,000.
- The Office of Family Concerns offers a diversity of programs for marriage preparation, marriage enrichment and repair of marriages experiencing difficulty, assisting priests and deacons in their work with couples and families. The Office of Family Concerns will receive $170,000.
- Catholic Social Services, Inc., is an outreach ministry of the archdiocese rooted in the Gospel with a special concern for those most in need and most vulnerable. CSS Counseling Services provides counseling in English and Spanish for families and individuals and through it 18 professional counselors last year served closed to 1,000 clients. CSS Pregnancy, Parenting and Adoption Services provides services to birthparents, adoptive parents and families with an "open adoption" philosophy centered on the best interest of the child. The program handled 10 cooperative open adoptions last year and the new bilingual program served 12-15 women. CSS Community Connection and Parish Social Ministry provides services to all areas of the archdiocese and local communities through projects including the One Church One Inmate program and local Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants. CSS Immigration Services provides legal assistance and representation relating to immigration matters to clients in need, last year serving approximately 45 clients per week. CSS Migration and Refugee Services offers resettlement services to newly arrived refugees in the Atlanta area and a broad range of support services to empower them. Last year 213 refugees were resettled, 604 were provided social adjustment assistance and 331 employment services. And finally, CSS's five regional offices in Cobb County, Gainesville, Athens, Chamblee and midtown Atlanta offer services in Spanish and English to low-income clients including job placement, English instruction and immigration counseling and support referrals. Last year more than 10,000 clients were served. Catholic Social Services will receive $692,000 from the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal.
