The 2023 Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries has received 12,356 gifts or pledges, bringing the total committed to more than $5.6 million, more than two-thirds toward a goal of $8.2 million.
Susan Bernetich, director of Annual and Special Appeals in the archdiocesan Department of Advancement, said the appeal started a week earlier than usual because of the timing of Ash Wednesday this year.
As of early April, 18 parishes had reached their goal and were on their way to their stretch goal. Three parishes have had more donors than last year.
The name of the campaign was changed a few years ago to emphasize the ministries within the archdiocese that are supported by the annual effort to strengthen and enhance parishes, programs and ministries that carry out the Gospel mission.
Funds are allocated by the Allocations Committee, made up of clergy, lay leaders in the community and Archdiocese of Baltimore staff.
“As you can imagine, a large number of (the recipients) are part of Catholic Charities,” Bernetich said, including Our Daily Bread, which has served more than 8 million meals over more than 14,000 uninterrupted days at its location on Fallsway in Downtown Baltimore. The site also provides a gateway to other services including employment, legal advice, health care and government benefits.
The campaign also put extra emphasis on college campus ministry, which fits in well with evangelization as a core priority for Archbishop William E. Lori, Bernetich said, and the good work being done in the City of Baltimore at the archdiocesan level and in parishes.
“Campus ministry provides, for young people in college, direction and support, in really beautiful ways that can lead them to the fullness of life,” said Father Matthew Himes, associate director of vocations for the archdiocese and campus ministry chaplain at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. “An important part of campus ministry is meeting students where they are and helping them make sense of how God is part of that, How God is part of their story.”
Bernetich also cited, as an example, Monsignor Richard Bozelli and St. Bernardine Parish in West Baltimore. “They do a lot in the community to support their parishioners and the surrounding community with food pantries and things like that.”
Each parish receives a share of the funds collected locally as a rebate to use for its own ministries. Bernetich noted that St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Frederick uses “a portion of their appeal parish share toward their African immigrant ministry, which is a fantastic example of how they’re helping to welcome these immigrants into their parish. They’re doing all kinds of activities this year,” she said, in the Immigration Outreach and Formation Initiative.
“The history of Catholicism in the United States has been one wave after another of immigration from different countries,” said Father Keith Boisvert, pastor. “The Africans that are coming to our parish are deeply committed to Catholicism.”
Initiative activities including picnics, retreats and community service projects help welcome newcomers to St. Katharine and bridge cultural divides.
Catholics in the archdiocese are still able to pledge to support the annual appeal. While the public portion of the campaign will be complete by the end of June, pledge payments can be spread through the end of the calendar year.
To make a donation to the appeal, visit archbalt.org/annual-appeal-for-catholic-ministries
Email Christopher Gunty at editor@CatholicReview.org
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