The" Annual Catholic Appeal is a three-week experience in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Last weekend (February 7-8)) was "Announcement Sunday." “Commitment Weekend” is this weekend February 14-15 whereas “Follow-Up Weekend” will be February 21-22

Catholics who haven't made a pledge to the Appeal by mail are asked to take a moment and do just that at all of the Masses celebrated in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The 2009 Annual Catholic Appeal will fund the following ministries, programs and
services this year:

1) Grants and scholarships for schools serving economically disadvantaged communities,

2) Training of volunteer religious educators to conduct parish religious education programs,

3) Recruitment, education and formation of lay ministers and deacons,

4) Continuing education and ongoing spiritual formation of priests,

5) Capital grants to parishes and schools serving economically disadvantaged communities,

6) Catholic Relief Services for aid to the poor in foreign lands,

7) Ministries of care and comfort to those in need,

8) Special Religious Education (SPRED) in over 100 parishes, and

9) Office of Respect Life (supporting the dignity of life from conception to natural death)–Elizabeth Ministry, Project Rachel, Project Gabriel, chastity programs for youth, etc.

Those are just some of the ways the Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Chicago loves the brothers and sisters it sees every day, and in doing so, loves the God it can only see with eyes of faith each day.

Each year’s Annual Catholic Appeal is an  opportunity which it offers us to respond to the needs of others.

That’s, perhaps, particularly important this year when the economic climate has stressed many people and their finances to the breaking point. The more that it’s obvious that our Church cares and is there, the more likely it will be that people believe God is there and cares.

The Annual Catholic Appeal campaign is much different than a one time special collection. It is a pledge campaign where you can make a gift, payable over five months.

A significant gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal will touch the lives of many others in a very positive way. The Annual Catholic Appeal provides a significant portion of the budget of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Most dioceses in the country conduct an appeal, once a year, to help with the costs of providing services and programs to their parishes and people. The Archdiocese of Chicago is no exception.

As you review the work enabled by your contribution to the Annual Catholic Appeal, please reflect on God’s gifts to you. He has given you all that you have. Your gifts to our parish, to the Archdiocese and to the work of the Church throughout the world are given in gratitude for the continuing gifts that God gives you.

Sometimes it is difficult to envision how one pledge can help an organization the size of our Archdiocese, how it can make a real difference. But each pledge does make a difference because all parishes participate in the campaign and the gifts of many enable our Archdiocese to deliver needed ministries and services.

Our combined gifts not only signify our gratitude to God, they glorify Him by enabling the work of our Archdiocese.

If you received your pledge form in the mail, please complete it and mail it back or bring it to Mass next weekend. For those of you that did not receive a mailing or have not had time to respond to it, we will conduct our in-pew pledge process at all Masses this weekend and the following weekend.