Annual Catholic Appeal encourages all to ‘put on love’ when considering a gift
March 12, 2024 at 10:20 a.m.
With a renewed focus on building greater unity among the faithful, their parishes and the Diocese, the Annual Catholic Appeal for the Diocese of Trenton has taken up the theme “One Love. One Faith. One Family.” And so far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
The Annual Catholic Appeal, which helps to fund ministries of the Diocese and its parishes and schools, is seeking $6.5 million in its 2024 campaign.
The campaign was launched the week of Feb. 19 with a mailer received in homes. This included a brochure, pledge card and envelope. A video featuring Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and testimonials about those whose lives have been positively impacted by the Appeal was shown at Masses Feb. 24-25 and March 2-3.
“Our faith remains the light of hope, guiding us to embrace unity and solidarity,” the Bishop said in the video. “Through the Annual Catholic Appeal, your support enables us in the Diocese to continue vital ministries and programs, broadening our services and reaching out to all those seeking solace, spiritual guidance and help, embodying the teachings of Christ in our actions.”
The full ACA video may be viewed in multiple languages at dioceseoftrenton.org/catholicappeal.
Parishes also provided pledge cards in pews, and displayed posters in additional languages – Spanish, Korean, Portuguese, Haitian/Creole and Polish – for parishes with diverse linguistic communities. The ACA currently is being promoted across diocesan social media outlets and websites.
A Unified Effort
This year’s theme emphasizes “oneness” – the connected nature of the Diocese’s Catholic components, illustrating how the whole benefits from all its parts working in concert.
“When we go out to give presentations [on the appeal], we talk about how we are all working together – our Diocese, our ministries and our parishes,” noted Christine Prete, director of the diocesan Department of Development. “Hearing personal stories from those directly impacted makes the destination of the funds transparent. These testimonials, delivered by individuals active in their local parish and shaped by diocesan training, deeply connect with potential donors. It’s this firsthand insight that illuminates the tangible difference their contributions make.”
A tangible example of this unity is the Mass held in the Chancery, in which diocesan employees gather monthly to pray for the intentions submitted by individuals through ACA materials, emphasizing that all are welcome to seek spiritual support, regardless of donating.
The ACA campaign began in 2000 and was named the Bishop’s Annual Appeal; when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., became Bishop of Trenton, he changed its name to the Annual Catholic Appeal to better reflect the nature of the annual program.
Rose Kimball, the department’s development associate, pointed out that without the people to create the parish, “there is no Diocese … and the parish is guided and directed by the Diocese’s best practices, pulling together resources like seminars and speakers and disseminating guidelines from the Pope and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.”
In Service of Many
The needs of the Diocese at large go beyond its individual parishes, and the ACA looks to offset costs via the generous contributions of its members; approximately 640,000 Catholics live in its four counties.
The ACA campaign this year highlighted six areas of ministry that directly benefit from the funds: Catholic social services, catechetical ministry, youth ministry, diaconate program, Catholic education and clergy and consecrated life.
In 2023, Catholic social service agencies like Catholic Charities were able to draw from ACA funding to assist a family experiencing homelessness. Parishioners who wished to help pass on the faith received diocesan training as certified catechists. Young people were enriched by the opportunity to celebrate their faith together at the Diocesan Youth Conference. Men called to serve as permanent deacons were assisted with the cost of their formation classes. Principals in Catholic schools were afforded the opportunity for continuing education. And beloved retired priests of the Diocese were supported in retirement communities, as many continue to serve regularly in nearby parishes.
“Even something like the Chrism Mass or the Blue Mass are funded in part by the ACA,” Kimball said. “The blessed oils that must be replaced each year, their distribution to parishes – those are needed to celebrate the Sacraments. And the annual Blue Mass [for law enforcement] is a massive undertaking, coordinated with another association – those men and women serve, support and protect our parishes, homes and businesses.”
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With a renewed focus on building greater unity among the faithful, their parishes and the Diocese, the Annual Catholic Appeal for the Diocese of Trenton has taken up the theme “One Love. One Faith. One Family.” And so far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
The Annual Catholic Appeal, which helps to fund ministries of the Diocese and its parishes and schools, is seeking $6.5 million in its 2024 campaign.
The campaign was launched the week of Feb. 19 with a mailer received in homes. This included a brochure, pledge card and envelope. A video featuring Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and testimonials about those whose lives have been positively impacted by the Appeal was shown at Masses Feb. 24-25 and March 2-3.
“Our faith remains the light of hope, guiding us to embrace unity and solidarity,” the Bishop said in the video. “Through the Annual Catholic Appeal, your support enables us in the Diocese to continue vital ministries and programs, broadening our services and reaching out to all those seeking solace, spiritual guidance and help, embodying the teachings of Christ in our actions.”
The full ACA video may be viewed in multiple languages at dioceseoftrenton.org/catholicappeal.
Parishes also provided pledge cards in pews, and displayed posters in additional languages – Spanish, Korean, Portuguese, Haitian/Creole and Polish – for parishes with diverse linguistic communities. The ACA currently is being promoted across diocesan social media outlets and websites.
A Unified Effort
This year’s theme emphasizes “oneness” – the connected nature of the Diocese’s Catholic components, illustrating how the whole benefits from all its parts working in concert.
“When we go out to give presentations [on the appeal], we talk about how we are all working together – our Diocese, our ministries and our parishes,” noted Christine Prete, director of the diocesan Department of Development. “Hearing personal stories from those directly impacted makes the destination of the funds transparent. These testimonials, delivered by individuals active in their local parish and shaped by diocesan training, deeply connect with potential donors. It’s this firsthand insight that illuminates the tangible difference their contributions make.”
A tangible example of this unity is the Mass held in the Chancery, in which diocesan employees gather monthly to pray for the intentions submitted by individuals through ACA materials, emphasizing that all are welcome to seek spiritual support, regardless of donating.
The ACA campaign began in 2000 and was named the Bishop’s Annual Appeal; when Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., became Bishop of Trenton, he changed its name to the Annual Catholic Appeal to better reflect the nature of the annual program.
Rose Kimball, the department’s development associate, pointed out that without the people to create the parish, “there is no Diocese … and the parish is guided and directed by the Diocese’s best practices, pulling together resources like seminars and speakers and disseminating guidelines from the Pope and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.”
In Service of Many
The needs of the Diocese at large go beyond its individual parishes, and the ACA looks to offset costs via the generous contributions of its members; approximately 640,000 Catholics live in its four counties.
The ACA campaign this year highlighted six areas of ministry that directly benefit from the funds: Catholic social services, catechetical ministry, youth ministry, diaconate program, Catholic education and clergy and consecrated life.
In 2023, Catholic social service agencies like Catholic Charities were able to draw from ACA funding to assist a family experiencing homelessness. Parishioners who wished to help pass on the faith received diocesan training as certified catechists. Young people were enriched by the opportunity to celebrate their faith together at the Diocesan Youth Conference. Men called to serve as permanent deacons were assisted with the cost of their formation classes. Principals in Catholic schools were afforded the opportunity for continuing education. And beloved retired priests of the Diocese were supported in retirement communities, as many continue to serve regularly in nearby parishes.
“Even something like the Chrism Mass or the Blue Mass are funded in part by the ACA,” Kimball said. “The blessed oils that must be replaced each year, their distribution to parishes – those are needed to celebrate the Sacraments. And the annual Blue Mass [for law enforcement] is a massive undertaking, coordinated with another association – those men and women serve, support and protect our parishes, homes and businesses.”