United Catholic Appeal closes in
on $5.5 million goal

By Brandon A. Evans

Last fall, Catholics of the archdiocese had a chance to renew their yearly pledge to give their time, talent and treasure to help the Church and those in need.

Now, as the Lenten season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving is upon us, the archdiocese is reaching out again to those who did not participate in the 2004-05 Called to Serve: Parish Stewardship and United Catholic Appeal ( UCA).

The goal of the UCA this year is $5.5 million—and so far the Catholics of central and southern Indiana have donated $5.2 million.

The funds that the UCA raises are used entirely to support the ministries of the archdiocesan Church.

Part of it goes toward shared ministries—such as seminarian education, Catholic Charities, spiritual life and worship, and family ministries.

The rest of the funds go to support parishes and schools in need around the archdiocese that can’t raise enough money to support themselves. These parishes and schools are called “home missions.”

Participating in the annual appeal also gives Catholics the chance to renew their direct commitment to their parish, both with financial aid and time and talent.

Joseph Therber, executive director of stewardship and development for the archdiocese, said that often a parish’s UCA goal is met by less than 30 percent of the people in a parish. Thus, increased participation is a major goal for each year’s appeal.

“Even more important than parishes meeting their financial goals for the appeal is the level of participation that we achieve,” Therber said.

“I think that persons who do not pledge simply do not yet connect in their minds that the United Catholic Appeal is the activity that funds their parish priest’s education, or the outreach of Catholic Charities in their city or deanery, or [gives] direct subsidies for parishes and schools through the archdiocese that are stretched financially,” he said.

Building awareness about the good works of the appeal is crucial, he said.

Part of the follow-up phase of the annual appeal is done on the parish level, Therber noted. Parish teams spend part of November and December personally contacting parishioners to remind them about filling out their appeal pledge cards.

From February to April, archdiocesan employees spend time following up with those who have not yet pledged anything.

“This consists of a direct mail request or a telephone contact with an opportunity to stay connected to parish ministries and the home missions and shared ministries of the archdiocesan Church,” he said.

Therber said that he is not worried that the generosity on the part of archdiocesan Catholics in response to the Asian tsunami disaster—so far, nearly $500,000 has been raised by individuals and parishes—will dampen giving to the appeal.

“I believe that people who give to the Church on an annual basis tend to keep that spot in their hearts and plans even as other opportunities arise,” he said.

He stressed that it isn’t too late for anyone in the archdiocese to give to the appeal because the needs of many in the archdiocese are not tied to a timetable.

“I am confident that we will surpass our goal,” Therber said, “for the appeal benefits truly everyone in our archdiocese, including persons in tremendous forms of need and hunger.” †