In the midst of living and working in challenging economic times, faithful from throughout the Diocese of Trenton are supporting the Bishop’s Annual Appeal in unique and generous ways.

As the 2012 Bishop’s Annual Appeal continues to move forward and parishes are working hard toward helping the diocese reach its $8 million goal, the diocesan Department of Development reported that eight parishes have successfully gone on to surpass their “all-time high pledge totals ever.”

“When we say ‘ever,’ we’re talking about ever since the Bishop’s Annual Appeal was started in 1999,” said Steve Nicholl, director of the Department of Development.

The eight parishes are: Sts. Francis and Clare, Florence Township; Christ the King, Long Branch; St. Anselm, Wayside; St. William the Abbot, Howell; Nativity, Fair Haven; St. Peter, Point Pleasant Beach; St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square, and St. David the King, West Windsor.

Reflecting on the statistics of the eight parishes, Nicholl said that “It’s unique in that these parishes are located in various areas of the diocese, are various sizes and are comprised of parishioners of different economic backgrounds.”

The 2012 Bishop’s Annual Appeal, themed “One Family, Our Family in Christ,” was inaugurated in all parishes in the diocese the weekend of Jan. 21-22 with a goal of $8 million. While $7 million of appeal dollars is being directed toward diocesan operations, ministries and initiatives, which include education; pastoral life and mission; clergy and consecrated life; communications and the parish rebate program, the additional $1 million will be used exclusively for parish-based programs and other Catholic social service agencies that work to serve the basic and emergency medical needs of the growing number of poor living within the four-county diocese.

As of early September, Nicholl reported that the appeal has received $7.168 million in pledges, which is 90 percent of the $8 million goal. Fifty of the diocese’s 109 parishes have attained their 2012 goal, and another 39 are between 70 and 99 percent of reaching their goal. Also 51 parishes are expected to obtain more appeal donors this year then they had in 2011.

Nicholl emphasized that the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is structured so parishes receive 15 percent of the funds they raise, once they reach their goal. Once parish target goals are reached, parishes then receive 50 percent of any additional funds received.

Beyond the Parish

Nicholl and Greg King, the department’s parish coordinator, attribute several reasons as to why the eight parishes might have had added success in their appeal endeavors, namely the support the pastors have shown for the appeal and the approach they have taken to educate their parishioners about its goals. On Appeal Sunday, the pastors are diligent in showing the video and promoting the appeal from the pulpit, and they also use the promotional tools that the Development Department provides — talking points, posters, brochures and parish bulletin announcements.

Although the eight pastors have different styles of leadership and approaches in how they address the appeal, they all agreed that they see the appeal as being more than just about raising money. The appeal is about benefiting the various diocesan ministries and programs which are ultimately for the benefit of the people of the diocese.

Though faced with shepherding parishes that have undergone restructuring through mergers, are smaller in size and are faced with financial challenges, Father Daniel Peirano of Christ the King Parish and Father Adam Midor of Sts. Francis and Clare Parish, were pleased to learn how their parishioners rallied in support of the appeal.

“They are making a sacrifice and it’s not easy for the parishioners to donate to both parish expenses and the Bishop’s Annual Appeal,” Father Peirano said.

Father Peirano said he believes his parishioners continue to be motivated to support the appeal because they hear the priests (of the parish) speak about its importance, and more importantly, “the people like Bishop O’Connell and they want to support what he is doing.”

Father Midor expressed appreciation for the fact that although Sts. Francis and Clare Parish has serious financial needs and, in light of parishioners living in difficult economic times, parishioners still contributed to the appeal.

There is a group of parishioners who “understands the broader concept of the Church and they will support the appeal,” he said. “They see the Bishop’s Appeal as being a better charity to support rather than some of the mailings they receive from other organizations. They would rather support something that they are familiar with.”

Father Robert Schecker, pastor of Nativity Parish, believes his “very low sell” tactic is part of the reason why his parish has been successful in reaching its goal.

“I never use pressure with regard to money,” he said. “Instead, when I invite the people to consider contributing, I recommend the prayerful reflecting approach. I talk about it on Appeal Sunday and then I tell my parishioners to go home, think about it, pray about it and then respond as their means permit.”

Another success point Father Schecker shared was that he encourages all of his parishioners to participate in the appeal, regardless of the amount they give.

“I emphasize that this is an opportunity for them to contribute to the works of the diocese. I also emphasize the rebate that comes back to the parish when we reach our goal,” he said.

Though Conventual Franciscan Father Robert Benko is the new pastor of St. Peter Parish, he brings a wealth of successful appeal experience from the eight years he was pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Burlington, N.C.

“I have never not made a goal in my pastoral experience,” said Father Benko.

Like his brother priests, Father Benko said he stresses that the parish
is not an isolated entity; that it is “part of something bigger” in the diocese. He also feels that what helps to motivate parishioners is by having the priests of the parish complete the pledge cards along with them on Appeal Sunday.

 “I invite them to join me in supporting the Bishop’s Annual Appeal and they responded,” he said.

While the majority of parishes introduce the appeal in January, Father Timothy Capewell instead uses the first Sunday of Lent to inaugurate the appeal in St. David the King Parish.

“I make it a point to introduce the appeal as part of our Lenten observance of prayer, fasting and almsgiving,” he said. “The support of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is really putting into practice the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy which we emphasize during Lent.”

 “We make the appeal our Lenten project because we realize there is more to the Church than simply St. David the King,” Father Capewell continued. “We know there are many other churches around the world that are in need of prayer and our financial assistance to help them to carry on their works. We also keep in mind that God loves a cheerful giver and as a parish we have received so many blessings and we want to make an effort to reach out to help those in need.”

Nicholl and King also recognized two parishes – St. Catharine-St. Margaret, Spring Lake, and St. Catharine, Holmdel, for their ongoing support of the appeal, even after they surpass their designated goals.

Nicholl noted that Msgr. Thomas Leubking, pastor of St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parishes, offered to write to  his parishioners – even those who had already donated to the appeal – and inform them that the “Bishop’s Annual Appeal still needs help and asked if they would consider making an additional gift.”

Even though Msgr. Leubking’s parish has surpassed its goal by 116 percent, “he looks to his community again to see what more could be done to help the appeal.”

Though St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel has been the “highest pledging parish” in the appeal’s 13-year history from 2000-2012, Msgr. Eugene Rebeck, is always willing to lend his support to the appeal, King said. “This is the direct result of Msgr. Rebeck’s leadership and the parish’s very committed BAA chairperson. Over the course of 13 years, St. Catharine has raised more than $3.5 million for the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.”

Ready to Help

For parishes that are still working on achieving their appeal goals, Nicholl said that the Development Department is ready to assist pastors in their marketing efforts and help with developing and training parish appeal committees.

“We want to partner with them,” he said. “We realize that they are not fundraisers and we are ready to help any pastor or parish community to improve the success of their appeal.”

Once again, Nicholl reiterated that the pastor’s support of the appeal is “critical.”

“And we have some unbelievably supportive pastors here in the Diocese of Trenton,” he said.