Capital Campaign unveils goal of $35 million

The campaign, titled "Into the Future Together in Faith," is the first ever in the 153-year history of the Diocese (also see editorial on page 12 and advertisement on page 32).

Catholics will be asked to commit to the campaign during Masses on the weekend of Oct. 28-29, as well as through direct mail appeals, parish events and other methods.

Through his own one-on-one efforts with donors, the Bishop has already raised more than $10 million. The largest single gift came from Kenneth and Thelma Lally of Niskayuna, who established a Catholic school endowment fund to provide tuition assistance to needy families.

The goals for the Capital Campaign include funding for:

* parish needs, such as maintaining current structures, meeting salary and benefit requirements for employees, and establishing endowments for future needs;

* pensions, retirement and health care of older priests;

* the restoration of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany in order to maintain what the Bishop has called its "historic value and artistic merit," and to make it "a more vibrant center for diocesan life and activities"; and

* endowments for Catholic Charities, Catholic schools, religious education and adult leadership formation.

"Stewardship calls upon each of us to give thanks to God for blessings received and to share a sacrificial portion of our blessings with the Church so that the mission and ministry of Jesus may be sustained in our day and time," the Bishop said. "In recognition of preceding generations who sacrificed for our sake and in recognition of our responsibility to prepare the way for those to come, I ask all Catholics and friends of the Church to support this most worthy campaign."

A more specific breakdown of the Capital Campaign is:

* $14 million (40 percent of the entire goal) for parish programs, services and facilities;

* $4.2 million (12 percent) for a clergy retirement fund;

* $4.2 million (12 percent) for a Catholic Charities endowment fund to support services to the poor, elderly, disabled and others in need;

* $4.2 million (12 percent) for the first phase in the restoration and renovation of the Cathedral;

* $4.2 million (12 percent) for a Catholic schools endowment fund to assist with tuition costs through scholarships and grants;

* $1.68 million (5 percent) to establish an endowment for evangelization and catechesis;

* $1.68 million (5 percent) for an endowment to meet future needs;

* $840,000 (2 percent) to establish an endowment fostering leadership skills, and an institute devoted to spirituality and faith formation.

The Capital Campaign is the final part of a comprehensive stewardship campaign first announced in The Evangelist in 1999. Elements already completed include a diocesan-wide increased offertory drive, held last autumn, and the Bishop's major gifts campaign last winter, which raised $10 million.

(09-21-00) [[In-content Ad]]