News

Gifts to annual Appeal top $3 million mark

	APPEAL TOPS $3 MILLION: Bishop's Appeal 2003 is at $3,026,417 or 63% of the diocesan target of $4.8 million.
	Bishop's Appeal What: Bishop's Appeal, the Green Bay Diocese's annual fund-raiser to support diocesan programs and services offered to parishes and individuals. Where: All parishes in the diocese. When: Right now. How: Making a cash, check, credit card (Mastercard, Visa and Discover) or pledge donation. Materials have been sent to homes and also are available through parishes. Some employers offer matching gift programs, for which Catholic Charities may qualify, since it serves the general public; additional information is available through Human Resources departments. Theme: Stepping Together in Faith. Target: $4.8 million.

Gifts to Bishop's Appeal 2003 have topped the $3 million mark and total $3,026,417. The target is $4.8 million.

However, giving this year is $337,000 below what it was at this time last year and and the number of gifts is down by 5,700, although the average gift is higher -- $101.47, compared to $98.67 last year, said Ron Shaha, director of the Appeal.

Stepping Together in Faith 2003 Bishop's Appeal
Related articles ... from March 28, 2003 issue: • Couple becomes fully immersed in Christianity • Bishop's Appeal needs financial support more than ever • Support the Appeal (Editorial) from March 21, 2003 issue: • Personal challenge leads teen to Crozier gift from March 14, 2003 issue: • Students find another way ... service project beckons them from March 7, 2003 issue: • Youth urged: Dive into life, faith and trust in Jesus' help from Feb. 28, 2003 issue: • Helping parishes to build House of the Lord from Feb. 21, 2003 issue: • Theology talks tap into young adult interests from Feb. 14, 2003 issue: • Appeal helps couple make adoption possible from Feb. 7, 2003 issue: • Weekend helps couples avoid marital rocks • An Appeal based on the Gospel from Jan. 31, 2003 issue: • Stop and consider all the people Appeal helps • Pie chart showing how contributions to Bishop's Appeal are divided • TEC enriches and plants seeds

Membership in the Crozier Society, for persons who give $500 or more to the Appeal, also continues to increase, Shaha said.

Ten parishes have surpassed their targets.

Parishes exceeding their target are:

• St. Anthony, Tigerton;

• St. Martin, Cecil;

• Holy Family-St. William, Wittenberg;

• St. Patrick, Lebanon;

• St. Joseph, Chase;

• St. Pius, Little Suamico;

• St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay;

• St. John the Evangelist, Green Bay;

• Holy Cross, Bay Settlement;

• St. Paul, Fish Creek.

The Bishop's Appeal supports numerous diocesan programs and services offered to parishes and individuals. Diocesan ministries supported by the Bishop's Appeal include counseling from state-certified therapists in the areas of addiction abuse and conflict, assistance for refugees and immigrants, support for a mission in the Dominican Republic, the weekly TV Mass, Marriage Preparation, teacher training through Total Catholic Education, sacred music programs through Pastoral Services and The Compass.

Contributions to the Appeal can be made by cash, check, credit card (Mastercard, Visa and Discover) or pledge. Some employers offer matching gift programs, for which Catholic Charities may qualify, since it serves the general public; additional information is available through Human Resources departments.

The theme for the annual campaign is "Stepping Together in Faith."