2012 Diocesan Appeal exceeds goal

by Alex Previtera
special to The Catholic Virginian

With the support of 11,068 donors across the Diocese, the 2012 Annual Diocesan Appeal has now raised $2,300,581, exceeding its initial goal of $2,250,000.

As of October 23rd, 67 parishes out of 146 have exceeded their 2012 target.

Thus far, there has been one parish over 300 percent, seven parishes over 200 percent, and 59 parishes over 100 percent.

As in the previous two Appeals, all parishes will receive back a significant portion of the total amount collected for their important local priorities. Over the past two Appeals, the parishes have received nearly $2 million in total.

In addition to the parish sharing opportunity the Appeal presents, there are also many important ministries and programs that benefit from this effort. Here are some of the highlights:

The Diocesan Office of Justice and Peace will provide Fuel and Hunger Fund grants to more than 65 parishes and Catholic organizations. These grants will provide food, heating, rent and shelter assistance for individuals and families in their local communities.
A portion of the amount collected will aid in funding the Priest Pension Plan and retired priest health insurance for 2012 – 2013.
The 2012 Appeal will allow the opportunity to conduct formation conferences for Catholic men and women, as well as provide Bible study resources to parishes and resources focused on young adults from our Hispanic population.
The Diocese will be able to provide subsidies for the continuing education of 75 catechetical leaders, subsidies for 360 lay leaders to attend the May 2013 Sullivan Conference in either English or Spanish, sacramental study days as well as multiple adult faith formation workshops that will provide educational opportunities for our English-speaking lay leaders and our emerging Spanish-speaking lay leaders.
Enculturation classes along with salaries, health insurance and food and housing allowances will be provided for new international priests.

Although the campaign has exceeded the overall goal, the Appeal is still gaining a strong response from parishioners. In fact, the list of parishes that have exceeded their target continues to increase on a daily basis.

Alex Previtera is the Director of Development for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.

On November 5, letters on behalf of the pastors will be sent to any previous Appeal contributors who have not yet given to the 2012 effort. In addition, a significant number of parishes are continuing to promote the Appeal at Mass and the Diocese has a number of follow-up activities planned to ensure that everyone is given the opportunity to participate.

“The Appeal is a unique opportunity for all of the parishes in our Diocese to come together with one voice to accomplish the goal of helping those in need while growing essential ministries and programs,” said Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo. “It is my sincere hope that all of our parishioners will prayerfully consider joining us in this very important initiative.”

Appeal Honor Roll as of October 23

The Honor Roll is a list of parishes that exceed their targets. Hopefully your parish will be included soon!

Parishes OVER 300%

Francis of Assisi (Rocky Mount) – 326%

Parishes OVER 200%

Saint Joseph (Clintwood) – 264%
Saint Mary (Richmond) – 238%
Saint Victoria (Hurt) – 219%
Saint Jude (Mineral) – 213%
Shepherd of the Hills (Quinque) – 205%
Blessed Sacrament (Norfolk) – 203%
Shrine of the Sacred Heart (Hot Springs) – 203%

Parishes OVER 100%

Saint Jude (Franklin) – 197%
Saint Benedict Church (Chesapeake) – 194%
Saint Mary Star of the Sea (Fort Monroe) – 191%
Saint Therese (Saint Paul) – 189%
Prince of Peace (Chesapeake) – 176%
Saint Ann (Ashland) – 176%
Saint Luke (Virginia Beach) – 176%
Church of the Holy Family Cluster (Tazewell) – 174%
Saint Matthew (Virginia Beach) – 163%
Church of the Sacred Heart (Petersburg) – 162%
Good Shepherd (Lebanon) – 160%
Saint Joseph (Clifton Forge) – 159%
Saint Edward the Confessor (Richmond) – 155%
Saint John the Evangelist (New Castle) – 154%
Church of the Epiphany (Richmond) – 151%
Immaculate Conception (Buckner) – 151%
Our Lady of Nazareth (Roanoke) – 151%
Saint Mark (Virginia Beach) – 149%
Saint Mary of the Presentation (Suffolk) – 146%
Saint Pius X (Norfolk) – 140%
Saint John the Apostle (Virginia Beach) – 135%
Immaculate Heart of Mary (Farmville) – 134%
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (Quinton) – 134%
Church of the Holy Spirit (Virginia Beach) – 133%
Sacred Heart (Norfolk) – 133%
Saint Edward Mission (Pulaski) – 133%
Saint Joseph (Petersburg) – 133%
Resurrection (Moneta) – 132%
Saint John (Dinwiddie) – 132%
Saint Joseph (Hampton) – 130%
Saint Bede (Williamsburg) - 126%
Saint Timothy (Tappahannock) – 126%
Saint Francis of Assisi (Amherst) – 124%
Holy Family (Pearisburg) – 123%
Saint Joseph (Richmond) – 123%
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (Tabb) – 121%
Immaculate Conception (Hampton) – 121%
Holy Infant (Elkton) – 120%
Saint Peter (Richmond) – 119%
Our Lady of Peace (Appomattox) – 118%
Church of the Transfiguration (Fincastle) – 116%
Saint Olaf (Norge) – 116%
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Richmond) – 115%
Holy Rosary (Richmond) – 114%
Saint Peter the Apostle (Onley) – 113%
Incarnation (Charlottesville) – 111%
Saint Joseph (Martinsville) – 111%
Holy Cross (Lynchburg) – 110%
Saint Paul (Portsmouth) – 110%
Saint Andrew (Roanoke) – 107%
Church of the Good Shepherd (Smithfield) – 106%
Our Lady of Lourdes (Henrico) – 106%
Saint Bridget (Richmond) – 106%
Saint Jerome (Newport News) – 106%
Church of the Ascension (Virginia Beach) – 105%
All Saints (Woodlawn) – 104%
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (West Point) – 103%
Saint John Neumann (Powhatan) – 103%
Church of the Holy Apostles (Virginia Beach) – 101%

Making a gift is easy and convenient. For more information on the ministries the Appeal supports or to find out how you can contribute to the Appeal, please visit: www.richmonddiocese.org/appeal.