As the director for Mission Advancement, Jean Houghton has witnessed many moments of gratitude from those who have received Catholic Services Appeal funds.
Her office heads the appeal, which supports 19 ministries in the archdiocese, from pro-life causes to hospital ministries.
Now Houghton has her own reason to be grateful. The Mission Advancement team has grown to four employees, spurring the appeal toward its $8.5 million goal this year.
Witnessing the outpouring of support for the appeal “has been humbling, frankly, and awe-inspiring,” Houghton told “Practicing Catholic” producer Kayla Mayer on the most recent show.
In education, the funds support Catholic elementary schools, scholarships for students to attend Catholic high schools; the archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Youth; and they help St. Lawrence Newman Center at the University of Minnesota provide two hours of confession every day, among other initiatives.
The appeal also supports the poor and marginalized through Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Deaf Ministry, Prison Ministry and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
In addition, appeal funds benefit pro-life ministry, seminarian room and board, Latino ministry and American Indian ministry.
Houghton said that she often hears “emotional, moving” stories from recipients.
“(There is) sheer gratitude and relief that the parents feel when they know that this money is coming to support their child,” Houghton said. “We’ve also had several individuals that have reached out to us about the hospital chaplains and how much it meant to them to have a chaplain available for them, whether it was welcoming a new life into the world or for helping someone prepare to meet God.”
Houghton also expressed gratitude for her growing team, including Marci Franzen, who joined the team on March 4 as the associate director of mission advancement. Before this role, she was project manager in the archdiocesan Office of Communications for over five years.
Franzen said 800 new donors have contributed since this year’s appeal launched on Jan. 17.
“It is really exciting to see that new people are seeing value in supporting these ministries and how excited they are to do so,” Franzen said.
Houghton said that each donor makes the many ministries around the archdiocese possible.
“You did this. It was because of your generosity, your gift. You made a difference,” she said.
To hear Houghton and Franzen talk more about the ongoing appeal, tune into “Practicing Catholic” when it airs at 9 p.m. April 12 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM, or when it repeats at 1 p.m. April 13 and 2 p.m. April 14.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes a discussion with Nancy Bandzuch about her podcast “Catholic Sprouts” and upcoming partnership with the Augustin Institute. Also, Deacons Michael Panka and Nick Vance talk about their journey to the priesthood ahead of their upcoming ordination.
Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at Spotify for Podcasters.
