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Pastors help parishioners reach CDA goal
By Ambria Hammel, ahammel@catholicsun.org
May 15, 2008
Despite a tighter economic environment, many local parishes are still meeting their goals in support of the diocese’s Charity and Development Appeal.
In the last 15 weeks, pastors and parish leaders have led Catholics to donate more than $9.6 million, 91 percent of its $10.5 million goal.
“We stuck to the tried and true methods of giving regular reminders from the pulpit and in the bulletin,” said Fr. Thaddeus McGuire, pastor of St. Daniel the Prophet Parish in Scottsdale.
He spoke about the CDA during Mass. In the bulletin, he published the number of families who contributed and what the parish needed to reach its goal. When a parishioner learned St. Daniel the Prophet was close to its goal, he made a contribution to help make up the difference.
“We’ve been trying to form our community on this broader message of stewardship,” Fr. McGuire said.
He works with the pastoral council to remind parishioners that the needs of the Church and local community — which the CDA funds — extend beyond parish walls.
Gifts donated to the CDA support more than 70 parish-level and diocesanwide ministries, as well as Catholic schools. They also provide vital support to community organizations such as the Foundation for Senior Living, local crisis pregnancy centers and Catholic Charities Community Services.
“‘Charity’ is a good word and makes us part of the greater Church,” said Fr. Matthew Krempel, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Kingman.
It’s this charity benefiting the diocese’s “One Family in Christ” — the theme for the appeal — that many priests see as the biggest reason to make a financial or prayerful contribution to the CDA.
“We need to do our part to share the blessings we have been given with the larger Church,” said Holy Cross Father John Herman, pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Goodyear.
“In these times of budget cuts and government programs, we need to help those that are poor and in need,” Fr. Herman said. “It is important that we as a Church do not back off from our commitment to help those that are served most from the CDA.”
For his parishioners, seeing the Office of Stewardship’s video moved them to support those in need through the CDA. The video showed seminarians, refugees and other families among the thousands who benefit from CDA funding.
Parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Queen Creek liked the more personal connection between themselves and those impacted by their financial and prayerful support.
They felt called to support the appeal after their pastor, Fr. Michael Shannon, brought in guest speakers. The guests testified about the effect CDA funding has in their daily lives.
In Kingman, Fr. Krempel found prayer to be the ticket to inspiring his parishioners to surpass their goal. He asked everyone to commit to praying for the appeal and CDA-funded ministries.
He also gave local examples of how the CDA benefits their community — including supporting the parish mission, La Santísima Trinidad.
“The parishioners of St. Mary’s are the generous ones,” Fr. Krempel said. “I asked and they responded. They need to be given all of the credit.”
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