May 11, 2007

Legacy for Our Mission campaign more than halfway to its goal

By Sean Gallagher

When it was launched in 2004, the Legacy for Our Mission: For Our Children and the Future campaign had an ambitious goal of raising $100 million.

By accomplishing this goal, the archdiocese hopes its parishes, shared ministries and home missions will be set on firm ground for years to come.

Two years later, with 74 parishes having participated in the campaign, nearly $60 million has been pledged.

“The results thus far give us strong confidence in the remainder of the campaign,” said Joseph Therber, executive director of the archdiocesan Office of Stewardship and Development.

“The parishes that are participating this year have done an excellent job of identifying parish ministry priorities and recruiting leadership teams who will get the job done and leave a positive imprint for our children and the future.”

In addition to gathering important donations for ministry throughout central and southern Indiana, the Legacy for Our Mission campaign has also seen more than 10,000 Catholics volunteer their time and talent to make it a success.

“The breadth of volunteer and financial participation is a testament to the presence and power of stewardship in the archdiocese,” Therber said.

“We have seen parish prayer teams come alive through the campaign, countless members become involved in setting parish priorities and understanding the archdiocesan Church, and generous financial gifts come about after a re-evaluation of personal spending patterns—all of which reflect God’s will in the Legacy for Our Mission campaign.”

Therber has witnessed firsthand the impact that the campaign has made on numerous parish communities throughout the archdiocese.

“The entire campaign has been a most rewarding experience in terms of working with so many pastoral and lay leaders throughout the archdiocese,” he said.

“Parish dreams coming true—from opening a new elementary school to constructing a new parish hall to paving a parking lot to expanding a parish endowment—are real expressions of stewardship that build community and reflect God in our lives.” †

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