Weekly THIS AND THAT for February 8, 2009: The Archbishop's Annual Appeal Begins

This and That:
The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal Begins


This weekend I am introducing the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. By now, many of us have received a mailing about this. I strongly endorse this Appeal and encourage all of us to make a financial gift. Because of that, I want to give you a thorough explanation of it.

First, as a clarification, for the past fifteen years or so we in the Archdiocese of Baltimore have participated in something called the Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal. The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal we are presently in is the same thing, but with a different name. Why the change in name? Basically, because the major work of promoting this is now being done on the three weeks before the beginning of Lent and not during Lent. Also, in fact, the former Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal continued throughout much of the year, as many people fulfilled their pledges in monthly payments. Thus, it seems better to name it the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore, like most dioceses in the country, conducts this annual campaign to fund services, programs, and ministries that it provides to Catholics and non-Catholics throughout the Archdiocese. Some of these are services that help Our Lady of Grace and all parishes. Some are programs that serve people in areas that are financially poor, but where we very much need our Catholic presence. Some are programs that individual parishes, like Our Lady of Grace cannot do alone and that we need to do together as an Archdiocesan Church. Here are some examples of what our gifts to Archbishop’s Annual Appeal fund:

• Youth Ministry grants and Inner City Youth Outreach
• Assistance to Religious Education and Vacation Bible School Programs
• Support for the Archdiocesan Youth Retreat Center located in our own parish
• Tuition Assistance Grants and Special Education Funding for Catholic schools
• Grants to Catholic High Schools for capital improvements
• Pro-Life Ministries including Project Rachel
• Hispanic Ministry and Outreach
• Grants to parishes for financial and capital emergencies
• Significant assistance to Associated Catholic Charities and its many services, programs, and institutions
• Assistance to the St. Vincent de Paul Society for its work with the needy
• Chaplaincies and Catholic Ministry for some non-Catholic hospitals
• Chaplaincies and Catholic Ministry for some prisons and Detention Centers
• Ministry to the Hearing Impaired, Camp GLOW for the developmentally challenged and disability access improvements to locations in need

I look upon this Appeal as our opportunity to express in a very real way (financial giving) our connectedness with the Church beyond our parish boundaries. It is our opportunity as an Archdiocesan Church to work together and to bring the love of the Lord to persons who might not otherwise experience this. I will say more about the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal next week.

Fondly,
Father Nicholas