Chicagoland

Catholic schools highlighted in 2010 annual appeal

By Michelle Martin | Assistant editor
Sunday, January 31, 2010

When Catholics attend Mass in the Archdiocese of Chicago the weekend of Jan. 30-31, they will hear a message they hear nearly every year: All have the opportunity to demonstrate discipleship and stewardship by giving to the Annual Catholic Appeal.

But this year, after the pastor speaks, parishioners in many parishes will hear from someone else: a Catholic school student, who will give a brief testimonial about why Catholic schools are important.

The archdiocese decided to invite students to speak at Masses — including at parishes that don’t have their own schools — to take advantage of the timing of Catholic Schools Week, which begins Jan. 31, and to emphasize the connection between the appeal and Catholic education.

Student support

This year, $3.5 million, the largest chunk of the more than $8.5 million expected to be raised by the Annual Catholic Appeal, will be devoted to grants and scholarships for schools serving economically disadvantaged communities.

Students at area Catholic schools also are highlighted in the appeal’s promotional brochure distributed by the Office of Stewardship and Development. One student, a girl named Kornelia from St. Ferdinand School on the Northwest Side, wrote, “By going to Mass every week, not because of tradition but to be with God, makes me a good disciple and gives me an opportunity to thank God for the gifts he has given me.”

She understands the message Cardinal George is spreading in his messages about the appeal, including the recorded homily that will be played in all parishes the weekend of Feb. 6-7, when parishioners will be asked to make a commitment to support the appeal.

The homily is keyed to the discipleship demonstrated by the apostles, keyed to Lk 5:11, “and they left everything and followed him.”

Disciples, according to the text of the cardinal’s homily, welcome all who hear Christ’s call, serve the needs of all and support our brothers and sisters and those who are in need.

Helping Haiti

This year, the message of support is especially poignant, following the devastating earthquake in Haiti. While the archdiocese joined Catholic dioceses around the country in taking up a special collection for Catholic Relief Services’ earthquake relief efforts the weekend of Jan. 16-17, the archdiocese’s annual contribution to CRS — $640,000 – comes from the Annual Catholic Appeal. Catholic Relief Services is the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ agency that provides not only disaster relief services around the globe, but also development aid to those in need.

The appeal, which is a yearlong campaign, is the only time Catholics are asked to directly support the work of the church in the Archdiocese of Chicago. In addition to Catholic schools and CRS, money from the appeal supports parish religious education; special religious education; recruitment, formation and education of parish lay ministers and deacons; continuing education and spiritual formation for priests; capital grants to needy parishes and schools; ministries that provide comfort, care and counseling to those in need; and promoting the dignity of life from conception through natural death.

Parishes themselves also benefit from the appeal because those who raise more than their target receive any extra money back in the form of a rebate. The target is set at 6 percent of the parish’s regular annual income, and most parishes who follow the procedures laid out by the Office for Stewardship and Development have little difficulty reaching it.

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