|
Special Collections
Funds help wider Church care for missions, special needs and more
By Andrew Junker, ajunker@catholicsun.org
September 18, 2008
Most local Catholics are familiar with the concept of stewardship through regular tithing to their parishes and supporting the annual Charity and Development Appeal.
“It means we take care of what God has given us and we take care of our brothers’ and sisters’ needs,” said diocesan chancellor Sr. Jean Steffes, CSA.
Sometimes, those needs occur far beyond parish, diocesan or even national boundaries, and are not covered by regular giving to a parish or diocesan appeal.
To help fill that gap, dioceses support a number of special collections throughout the year. These collections — often known as second collections because they take place after the first, regular Mass collection — help the wider Church in a variety of its needs.
“There are normally 12 special collections annually,” said Margo Gonzalez, diocesan coordinator for special collections.
Generally, they include the Bishops’ Relief collection, the Holy Land appeal, Catholic Home Mission, Special Needs, Communications, Native American and Black Missions, Peter’s Pence, Propagation of the Faith and Mission Sunday, the Sanctity of Life appeal, the Mission Cooperation appeal, Catholic Relief Services, the Campaign for Human Development and the Retirement Fund for Religious.
These appeals help fund work being done both by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and by the Holy See. For instance, The Catholic Home Mission appeal raises money for those areas inside the United States that have few resources.
“It helps Catholic communities across America survive and thrive,” Gonzales said, “by underwriting evangelization, religious education, education for future priests, training for lay ministers and poor parishes that would have to close their doors without outside help.”
Peter’s Pence
Likewise, Peter’s Pence — which will be collected at parishes this month — is an appeal directly from the Holy Father. It got its start in the ninth century when an English king collected a “pence” from landowners as financial support for the pope.
Now, the Peter’s Pence collections are placed in an emergency fund to be used by the Holy Father as assistance to those in need because of natural disaster, war, oppression or disease.
“It unites us in solidarity to the Holy See and its works of charity to those in need,” Gonzalez said.
The Special Needs appeal combines a number of areas needing assistance. It supports the Church in Latin America, the Church in Africa and the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
“Catholic University of America is the national university of the Catholic Church,” Gonzalez explained. “The collection helps underwrite scholarships to assist financially deserving students in completing their education.”
In addition to the regularly scheduled special collections, the diocese also may hold emergency appeals. Local Catholics donated more than $1 million for Hurricane Katrina relief in 2005, and also contributed to a fund assisting those in Darfur in 2004.
Delores Kane, a parishioner at St. Francis Xavier, said she often gives to the special collections, but said tighter financial times make it more difficult to give.
“I think that in most people’s lives today they’re pretty pressed for their money,” Kane said. “It’s the state of the world. There’s not a whole lot of money left over.”
Even so, Sr. Jean said that good stewardship is not just a matter of hitting a certain number of dollars.
“It’s good to give not just from our abundance, but also from our need,” she said.
Sr. Jean referenced the widow’s mite in the Gospel. Christ was teaching in the Temple and observed the people making donations.
Many of the rich donated large sums, but Jesus told His disciples that the poor widow who only put in two small coins gave more than the rich men, because she gave from her poverty, not from her abundance.
“These collections are asked from people of all economic stripes,” Sr. Jean said.
Last year the diocese donated nearly $1.7 million to the special collections.
“I have a sense of gratitude for people responding the way they do,” Sr. Jean said. “We’re just counting on the good will of Catholics in the Diocese of Phoenix to continue this wonderful tradition.”
|
