Dear Parishioners,
Almost five years ago in our diocese a small group of Catholics gathered to discuss planning for the future. Their discussions were not focused on the near future, but instead looked at the distant future. They were interested in planning for the success of the Church for the next several decades. Their discussions involved ministering to our youth and elderly, providing priests to our parishes, serving the poor, enhancing Catholic faith formation for people of every age in our parishes, as well as other topics. The need for such ministry is obvious, but the challenge is the availability of the financial and human resources.
As more people became involved in these discussions, they too saw the need and value of long term planning for the success of parishes throughout our diocese. Momentum was building behind their vision as more and more people became involved in the early planning. The vision was shared by people of various backgrounds, laity and clergy alike, including Bishop Thomas. At that point, a focused study began on providing the long-term financial and human resources that our parishes need.
For the financial portion, a capital campaign company was consulted to provide guidance and direction. In the year before the Covid shutdown, every parish in our diocese, which is about 120 in 19 counties, was consulted to give their input on the possibility of conducting a diocesan capital campaign. Pastors were consulted as well as some parishioners from each parish. A variety of questions were asked, such as what are the most important parish ministries that need financial funding, what are the parish needs, should a fundraising campaign be conducted, and if so, when. Interestingly, more parishioners were in favor of having a capital campaign than the priests, and they thought now was the time.
Just as the Diocese was prepared to begin the capital campaign in the parishes, the Covid shutdown began. Because of the many pressing issues related to Covid, the capital campaign was suspended without any future plans. However, as we finally began to emerge late last winter from the restrictions of Covid, and people were happily resuming normal life, the plans for the diocesan capital campaign re-emerged. The test of whether the fundraising campaign would be successful came this past spring with 8 parishes from different areas of our diocese, both big and small, rural and urban. Amazingly, they raised 156% of their goal!
It is important to remember that this capital campaign is about parishes throughout our diocese raising money for our parishes. It is about providing long-term financial resources for the most important ministries of our parishes. In addition, each parish receives thirty five percent of every dollar received up to the parish goal, to be used for whatever projects they have determined. Once the parish goal is reached, then fifty percent of every dollar received through the campaign will remain at the parish.
The ultimate goal of the money being raised is for ministry. Planning and helping to secure the future of the ministry work of our parishes is vitally important. It is the work of the Church that seeks to shape the minds and hearts of people, for their benefit in this world and the next.
Gratefully,
Fr. Miller
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Fr. Miller
Pastor