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Parish leaders ensure CDA pledges add up to success
By Ambria Hammel, The Catholic Sun
March 6, 2008
For many local Catholics, the annual diocesan Charity and Development Appeal ends after they make their contribution during Mass or online.
That’s not the case for the staff and volunteers who act as “CDA Leaders” at each of the diocese’s 108 parishes and missions. They are asked by their pastor to let everyone know that the appeal has started and communicate both stewardship and the needs of those affected by the CDA. They also accept the donation cards and count every pledge at their parish or mission.
“My heart is in it,” Doris Logan said about why she has spent more than 10 years leading the CDA at St. Catherine of Siena Parish.
“We have to take these positions to help our fellow man. When I see desperate people on the street, I know that I have helped them,” she added.
Logan’s volunteer efforts have enabled the CDA to raise from $7 million to more than $10 million annually during the many years she’s been involved. That, in turn, helps the poor and others in crisis receive assistance from the more than 70 community organizations funded by the annual appeal.
Most CDA volunteers have developed a system for guiding parishioners through the appeal.
“Our model that we use has been a heavy dosage of communication that’s backing up the planning that we do,” said Dave Scalise, who has been leading CDA efforts at Our Lady of Lourdes and Prince of Peace churches, both in Sun City West, for six years.
That “steady diet” of communication calls for inviting guest speakers to tell churchgoers each January about the appeal and how it affects them, showing the CDA video and writing updates for the weekly bulletin.
CDA volunteers often gauge the parish’s current donations against its goal in the weekly bulletin. The goals include both prayer and financial gifts. Some parishes, like St. Timothy in Mesa, use an illustrated thermometer to help churchgoers compare the information.
During the appeal’s kickoff, Scalise and other volunteers at the Sun City West churches also stuff bulletins with the CDA envelope and a pledge card plus a letter from the pastor.
After that, 20 volunteers fill up the parish’s office processing pledges that often amount to two-thirds of its goal during the first weeks. The remaining one-third tends to come in slower as the appeal continues.
A personal appeal
But helping parishioners understand their donation funds needs within the community isn’t always easy. That’s why some parishes make it personal by sharing a story in the bulletin about someone who benefits from the appeal’s funding.
Terri Farley, St. Timothy’s office manager, knows exactly the type of people that are grateful for the generosity of the diocese’s Catholics year after year. She is one of them.
Farley is the mother of Fr. Patrick Farley, parochial vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. Fr. Farley was ordained in 2005.
“We could never have afforded his necessary post-grad education at St. Meinrad Seminary, which allowed him to answer God’s call, without CDA funding,” Farley said.
CDA Leaders often find that helping parishioners see how CDA funding is put to use moves parishioners to donate. This year, CDA Leaders at St. Timothy — like Farley — reminded churchgoers that their past generosity supported the education of three newly ordained priests and continues to support a current seminarian. Terri and other St. Timothy’s volunteers told them, “We are called to serve and the CDA is an easy way to help others.”
Volunteers at Our Lady of Lourdes didn’t have a personal example to share, but realized parishioners needed one. That’s when Scalise decided to show the CDA video highlighting ministries and families in crisis who had received CDA funding.
He played the video in the hall after each Mass, but turnout was low. Scalise then secured rental equipment so parishioners could watch the video in the Church. When parishioners could see the type of people affected by their prayers and financial pledges, the parish’s contributions increased.
Even if Catholics can relate to the needs they see in the video or hear from a volunteer speaker, making a personal connection often means nothing if parishioners feel they don’t have much to spare for others.
“The need is greater right now,” Fred Widmer said about donations in a weakening economy. “The economy is having an effect on people. We get calls all the time.” Widmer, also a volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul, oversees the CDA at St. Germaine Parish in Prescott with his wife, Corrie. He has been able to see the poverty in the area face to face. “The CDA is one way the parish can help to solve these problems.”
Paul Schildgen, who leads the CDA at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral with his wife, Norma, agreed.
“This isn’t the time to back away,” Paul said. “With the economy the way it is, it has a two-fold impact. People have less discretionary funds to spend. Meanwhile, that means people need more help.”
With CDA funding, Paul added, “The small amount of time and energy by one person really translates into something more than any one person could ever do.”
It’s often the small donations or prayer pledges that CDA leaders cherish most when they process the pledge cards.
“Our absolute favorite cards come from those written with a shaky hand, explaining that they are not in a position to contribute or maybe have a few dollar bills attached,” Farley said, “but they will pray for the success of the CDA.”
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