Annual Appeal Is Opportunity To Support Church’s Work

MARY ANNE CASTRANIO, Staff Writer

Published: October 28, 2004

ATLANTA—The end of October brings the traditional festivities connected with candy, children, dressing up and fun. And while families around the archdiocese, young and old, enjoy the sweet treats of the holiday, they are also challenged to share the “sweet fruits” of their own “harvests.”

This Sunday, Oct. 31, is Treasure Commitment Sunday, and Catholics are urged to prayerfully consider supporting the ministries of the church through the 2005 Archdiocesan Annual Appeal. The theme of this year’s campaign is a simple one: “Share faith … give hope … be love.”

The donations given to the annual appeal each year support the ministries of the Catholic Church in North Georgia, which include vocations, the needs of immigrants, the poor, the elderly, education and special ministries.

The 2005 Archdiocesan Annual Appeal has once again set a goal of $5.6 million needed to support these ministries.

Funds for the appeal come from the donations of Catholics across the archdiocese. Every parish and mission has an individual monetary goal for the annual appeal. As each family donates to the appeal, their parish family moves closer to its own goal, which it is responsible for reaching. When a parish goes over its goal, the overage is divided between the parish and the archdiocese: the parish receives 50 percent of the overage if it reaches 100 to 115 percent of the goal and 75 percent of the overage if it reaches 115 to 125 percent of the goal. A parish reaching more than 125 percent of the annual appeal goal receives 100 percent of the overage.

The combined efforts of all make reaching the archdiocesan goal a reality, which in turn brings to fruition the work of the church here in North Georgia.

Parishioners can make a one-time donation or pledge an amount to be given over a 10-month period. A $50 gift can be given as five dollars a month or a $100 gift as $10 a month for 10 months.

All households of the archdiocese will receive envelopes and donor cards in the mail; additional envelopes and cards are available at all parishes and missions.

Catholics are encouraged to reflect on and apply the teachings in Scripture concerning generosity.

“I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.” (Mt 25:40)

In his letter to all the Catholics of the archdiocese, Archbishop John F. Donoghue asked that Catholic Christians “share (their) material gifts for the work of the Lord.” He noted that these gifts are “blessings from a gracious and loving God, and we are accountable to God for the appropriate use and responsible management of all things.”

The archdiocesan programs that receive support through the 2005 Archdiocesan Annual Appeal provide the following diverse programs and services.

The Office of Vocations, which currently sponsors 49 men studying for the priesthood and facilitates the ongoing discernment process for those interested in becoming candidates for priestly formation. The vocations program will receive $1,247,680.

Catholic Charities, which receives $898,800, is the umbrella over a number of ministries related to helping those in need. Catholic Housing Initiatives is the managing agent of Good Shepherd Place, Cumming, and St. Joseph Place, Atlanta, which offer independent retirement living in a peaceful setting. Catholic Personal Care Homes, Inc., which receives $141,120, maintains two licensed personal care homes in the Atlanta area: St. Thomas Manor, East Point, and St. Teresa Manor, Riverdale.

The HIV/AIDS Ministry, which receives $49,840, assists parishes in establishing their own HIV/AIDS ministry by providing support and resources. The Office of Child and Youth Protection provides education and resources about child abuse to the parishes and agencies of the archdiocese. This office, which receives $74,480, offers educational programs to parish staff, volunteers and parents free of charge. The Pro-Life Office, which receives about $89,880, coordinates pro-life efforts within the archdiocese and develops, trains and supports parish pro-life committees, acting as an archdiocesan resource for information on pro-life issues. The Family Life Office works toward the prevention of problems in families and offers various Catholic programs for marriage preparation, marriage enrichment and marriage repair. This office receives $197,680 each year from the annual appeal.

Catholic Social Services, Inc., is an outreach ministry of the Archdiocese of Atlanta rooted in the Gospel with a special concern for those most in need and most vulnerable. This organization receives $222,880 each year for use in its work, which includes quality, bilingual counseling for families and individuals; pregnancy, parenting and adoption services; Community Connection & Parish Social Ministry, which supports a variety of projects, including the One Church One Inmate program and local Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants; immigration services, which provides legal assistance and representation related to immigration matters; and migration and refugee services, which offers resettlement services to newly arrived refugees and a range of support services. The regional offices of CSS are located in Cobb County, Gainesville, Athens, Chamblee and midtown Atlanta and offer bilingual services to low-income clients including job placement, English as a Second Language, and immigration counseling and support referrals. Last year more than 10,000 clients were served in the five regional offices.

Campus Ministry, which receives $300,160 from the annual appeal, subsidizes the operating costs of four Catholic Centers operated on local area college campuses.

The archdiocese also subsidizes $74,480 of the program costs for the annual Eucharistic Congress. In June 2004, over 23,000 people attended the Eucharistic Congress.

The Hispanic Apostolate, which receives about $302,120, fosters unity among the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities of the archdiocese. Spanish Masses are offered in 49 of the parishes and missions. The Hispanic Apostolate also offers two weeks of formation each year, as well as an annual retreat for laypersons.

The Ministry With Persons With Disabilities advocates full inclusion into the life of the church by providing individualized services and programs that assist disabled Catholics as they enjoy their baptismal rights as members of the church. This ministry receives $63,840 from the annual appeal each year.

The archdiocese subsidizes Mission Development each year by helping financially struggling missions and smaller parishes on an as-needed basis to meet the pastoral needs of their parish communities. This area receives $690,480.

The Office for Black Catholic Ministry supports the clergy with the spiritual needs of the black Catholic community and that of the larger Catholic community of the archdiocese. This office receives approximately $129,360.

The Permanent Diaconate Formation Program, which receives $77,840, supports the 76 men in various stages of preparation in the five-year school at the St. Stephen Center for Diaconate Studies. The archdiocese currently has 127 active deacons serving in 61 parishes and missions.

The Religious Education/Faith Formation Department, which receives $668,080 from the annual appeal, builds the faith community through assisting with age-appropriate religious education to pastors and their staff and assisting parishes with sacramental formation. The department also provides young adult ministry and youth ministry, as well as providing catechetical formation and certification services. All of these services are provided in both English and Spanish.

The Office of Catholic Schools, which receives $371,280, assists the 15 elementary schools and three secondary schools by sponsoring a range of activities, including monthly principals’ meetings, in-service opportunities, curriculum writing sessions, technology support, assistance with psychological services for students, specific training of substitute teachers and interfacing with other educational organizations.

The funds raised for the appeal will be used solely for the programs and ministries listed in the annual appeal brochure.

In his letter to the people, Archbishop Donoghue asked all “to clearly focus on your many gifts and blessings, not just the material ones, but your most important ones … your health, your family, the gift of children and the promise of eternal life, all of which come from God. As you consider your contribution, make it a gift of gratitude to the Lord for all He has entrusted to you and for all He continues to give each day. Respond with a glad and grateful heart for all that God has done for you and yours!”

For additional information, contact your parish or mission or contact the archdiocese at (404) 888-7801. Information on the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal may also be viewed at www.archatl.com.