Members of diocese encouraged to ‘strengthen the family bond’ through Bishop’s Annual Appeal
By Erick Rommel
Head Staff Writer
The diocesan Annual Appeal for 2004 has been announced with a goal of $5.7 million, a $300,000 increase from 2003. Last year, the goal was exceeded by more than $100,000 dollars.
This year’s theme of Together - One Family in Christ is meant to encourage members of the diocese to work together as a family.
“It is through families that values are
implanted, character is developed, and
faith is nurtured,” Bishop Paul G.
Bootkoski wrote in a letter enclosed with
the fundraising brochure. “In the Church,
we have so many different families but,
together, we are one family in Christ and,
as one family, we must help and support
each other.”
“Our budget is going up and expenses
increase,” explained Vincent Stahl,
director of the diocesan Office of Development.“Our need is greater this
year than last year.”
The annual appeal is the method used by the diocese to collect the funds needed to sustain more than 25 diocesan offices and ministries.
“It enables us to provide for those who are hungry or homeless; to fight for the unborn and the unwanted; to care for individuals, couples and families at all stages of life,” the Bishop also wrote in his letter.
Special ministries will receive about one-third of the money raised during the appeal; Catholic Social Services will receive 20 percent; 15 percent will go to education, 19 percent to pastoral life and 15 percent to personal ministry, Stahl said.
As in prior years, a multifaceted campaign will serve to impart essential information to members of the diocese and ask for their support of the fundraiser.
Brochures will be mailed to a majority of Church members in the diocese. In each parish, pulpit announcements will be made, banners promoting the appeal will be displayed and a video that further details the appeal will be shown the weekend of Sept. 25 and 26.
Once again this year, a 30-second commercial which features Bishop Bootkoski discussing the appeal will air on cable television throughout the diocese.
Also, for the second year, the diocese will accept online donations from an individual’s credit or debit card, or through an electronic funds transfer. “Online giving was very successful last year,” Stahl said. “Many people prefer giving this way because it is easy and convenient. More than $170,000 was donated using this method of payment.”
Online donations are available by clicking here.
To further spread the word about the bishop’s appeal, the diocese will post 20 to 25 billboards in Middlesex, Somerset, Warren and Hunterdon counties educating the community about the appeal’s theme, Together – One Family in Christ.
Stahl reported that in last year’s appeal, the $5.4 million goal was met through the contributions of 31,751 people donating money; 58 parishes exceeded their goal, while an additional 20 parishes attained 90 percent or more of their goal.
“In recent years, the Development Office has reported a trend of fewer families making a gift to the Annual Appeal,” it’s written in remarks to be made by pastors the weekend of Sept. 18 and 19. “I ask that if you have never made a gift to the Appeal, or if you haven’t done so in recent years, to please make a gift this year. Thousands of people rely on Appeal generosity to receive much needed services every year.”
Those wishing to donate to the appeal
also may do so by mailing a check
with the pledge card and envelope provided
in the mailing to homes, or call
(732) 562-2438.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law