The annual Catholic Services Appeal hasn’t reached its halfway point in the campaign year, but a number of parishes already have met and exceeded their goals — both in dollars and number of donors.
Leaders are crediting local Catholics who recognize their role in the greater Church.
According to Tim Healy, president of the Catholic Services Appeal Foundation, at the appeal’s 12th week, the foundation has received $200,000 more than at the same time last year.
The appeal began in parishes at the end of February and goes until Dec. 31.
Thousands of people throughout the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and beyond benefit from the appeal. Funds are used for some 16-plus archdiocesan ministries, including Archdiocesan Youth Day, outreach to Catholics with disabilities, Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, Latino ministry, Native American ministry, deaf ministry, the Venezuelan mission, Catholic elementary schools, Catholic high school tuition aid, campus ministries, St. John Vianney College Seminary, The Saint Paul Seminary, hospital chaplains, prison chaplains, Catholic Charities and evangelization.
The foundation’s goal is to contribute $9.3 million after expenses to the ministries. All dollars collected by the CSAF are used only for the benefit of its designated ministries and expenses of the appeal.
“We’ve seen the generosity of the people in this archdiocese,” Healy said. “They see the need of the community, and they’re responding. People realize the call of the Church, not just for priests, but for all of us. This year, the pastors have done an extraordinary job in educating and encouraging what the CSAF supports.”
Responding in faith
Father Corey Belden of St. Anne in Hamel has encouraged parishioners to participate in what he calls “an act of faith” to care for people beyond the parish’s boundaries.
“It’s not just about St. Anne’s, it’s about the archdiocese,” Father Belden said. “The faith is so much greater than our little parish.”
Father Belden has promoted the annual appeal as a responsibility and duty of Christians.
“The gifts God has given you will be returned to him as your gifts to others, who you might not ever meet,” he said. “You either respond in faith, or you don’t.”
New to this year’s appeal is its establishment as an independent non-profit corporation to receive and distribute all CSAF donor dollars. Bill Mohrman and John Norris join Healy as officers of the foundation.
Healy said the appeal’s success thus far reflects the goodness and truth of the Church. But because the foundation has a way to go before reaching its $9.3 million goal, he urges all Catholics to look at the ministries benefiting from the appeal and help those people by contributing.
“When you look at the list, who would you not want to support?” Healy said. “They’re very worthy charities and needy people. We are all about social justice — it’s about helping those people who need help.”
Healy said the foundation is encouraged by the numbers, and the process of receiving contributions will continue as it has for the last 40 years — with phone calls and follow-up letters to remind people to give.
“We know there are still dollars out there,” he said. “Even if you’ve given, feel free to give more.”
More information and to donate
Contributions made to ministries from the 2014 Catholic Services Appeal Foundation as of May 15
Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women: $7,669
Campus ministries: $119,250
Catholic Charities: $583,333
Catholic elementary schools: $504,110
Catholic secondary schools: $482,500
Deaf Ministry: $16,023
Evangelization: $17,882
Hospital and prison chaplains: $281,461
Indian Ministry: $80,687
Latino Ministry: $63,792
Marriage, Family and Life: $140,369
St. John Vianney Seminary: $128,939
The Saint Paul Seminary: $547,676
Venezuelan Mission: $67,103
Total: $3,040,794
For more information about these specific ministries, visit the Catholic Services Appeal Foundation website.
The following parishes have exceeded their 2014 Catholic Services Appeal goal
Our Lady of Grace-Edina
St. John the Baptist-Excelsior
St. Anne-Hamel
St. Stephen-Minneapolis
All Saints-Minneapolis
St. Raphael-Crystal
Holy Family-Saint Louis Park
Ascension-Minneapolis
St. Anne/St. Joseph Hien-Minneapolis
St. Bridget of Sweden-Lindstrom
Ascension-Norwood Young America
St. Mary of the Lake-White Bear Lake
St. Rose of Lima-Roseville
St. Pascal Baylon-Saint Paul
St. Helena-Minneapolis
St. Adalbert-Saint Paul
St. Hubert-Chanhassen
St. Peter-Mendota
Our Lady of Guadalupe-Saint Paul
Sacred Heart-Saint Paul
Saint Ambrose of Woodbury-Woodbury
St. Albert-Albertville
Good Shepherd-Golden Valley
St. Mary of the Lake-Plymouth
St. Charles Borromeo-Saint Anthony
St. Agatha-Rosemount
St. Casimir-Saint Paul
St. John the Baptist-Savage
St. Michael-Kenyon
St. Joseph-Waconia
St. Pius V-Cannon Falls
St. Bonaventure-Bloomington
St. John the Baptist-Dayton
St. Mary-Stillwater
St. Peter-North Saint Paul
Nativity of Our Lord-Saint Paul
Cathedral of St. Paul-Saint Paul
St. Timothy-Maple Lake
St. Francis De Sales Church-Saint Paul
St. Joseph-West Saint Paul
St. Gabriel the Archangel-Hopkins
St. Boniface-Saint Bonifacius
St. Genevieve-Centerville
Sacred Heart-Robbinsdale
Our Lady of Mt Carmel-Minneapolis
St. Patrick-Edina
St. Louis King of France-Saint Paul
St. Bartholomew-Wayzata
Maternity of the Blessed Virgin-Saint Paul
St. John the Baptist-New Brighton
St. Peter-Forest Lake
Our Lady of Victory-Minneapolis
St. Paul-Ham Lake
St. Odilia-Shoreview
St. Michael-Pine Island
St. John the Evangelist-Little Canada
Blessed Sacrament-Saint Paul
Holy Name of Jesus-Wayzata
St. John Vianney-South Saint Paul
St. Patrick-Oak Grove
St. Olaf-Minneapolis
St. Mary-Le Center
St. Michael-Stillwater
St. Jude of the Lake-Mahtomedi
St. Stephen-Anoka
Immaculate Heart of Mary-Minnetonka
St. Nicholas-Carver
St. Rita-Cottage Grove
St. Joseph-Rosemount
St. Nicholas-Elko New Market
Epiphany-Coon Rapids
St. Bernard-Cologne
St. Joseph-Taylors Falls
St. Ignatius-Annandale
St. John the Baptist-Vermillion
Guardian Angels-Chaska
St. Pius X-White Bear Lake
St. Michael-Saint Michael
Lumen Christi Catholic Community-Saint Paul
St. Francis of Assisi-Lakeland
Immaculate Conception-Madison Lake
All Saints-Lakeville
Immaculate Conception-Columbia Heights
St. Agnes-Saint Paul
St. Michael-Prior Lake
St. Columba-Saint Paul
St. Vincent de Paul-Brooklyn Park
St. Joseph-Hastings
St. George-Long Lake
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary-Bloomington
Nativity of Mary-Cleveland
Corpus Christi-Roseville
Divine Mercy Catholic Church-Faribault
Our Lady of the Prairie-Belle Plaine
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton-Hastings
St. Francis Xavier-Franconia-Taylors Falls
St. Albert the Great-Minneapolis
Divine Mercy Catholic Church-Faribault
St. Henry-Le Center