Catholics shatter Appeal's records

The Albany diocesan Bishop's Appeal has smashed all records, bringing in more than $7.3 million in gifts and pledges.

Last year at the same point in time, the annual campaign topped out at more than $6.9 million from Catholics across the Albany Diocese.

Another three or four percent could be added to the 2006 total by the time the campaign wraps up next March, say those in charge of the campaign.

Generous Catholics

"This comes as no surprise," said James Kopp, executive director of development for the Diocese. "The people of our Diocese have always responded with overwhelming generosity in support of programs that enrich and enable our faith."

Those programs are the 76 ministries of the Diocese that are funded by the Appeal, ranging from parishes and Catholic Charities to religious education and support for vocations.

"There's a lot of need out there, and this enables us to meet that need as a Diocese," remarked Eileen Donovan, director of the Bishop's Appeal.

New options

Ms. Donovan noted that two new options for giving have brought in some donations: the 1847 Society and sacrificial giving.

The Society, so named because the Diocese was founded in 1847, invites Catholics to pledge $1,847; Catholics who choose the sacrificial giving option pledge $2 a day to the campaign. More than 30 donors have already joined the 1847 Society.

"People seem really excited about it," said Ms. Donovan, adding: "It's a great celebration of our legacy, our history."

Average up

In addition to saluting individual donors, Ms. Donovan credited parish leaders -- pastors, parish life directors and volunteers who help with the appeal -- for the campaign's record-breaking success.

Another impressive statistic for the campaign is that last year's average gift was $177, while this year's is $193.

"People are catching on to all the great things that are happening" in the Diocese, Ms. Donovan stated. "People's generosity is ensuring we're going to be sustained as a Church, a community of faith.

"We're encouraging people who have made a pledge to follow through. The more resources we get from them, the better we're able to meet the needs of a changing and growing Church."

(To donate, contact your parish or the diocesan Bishop's Appeal office at 453-6680. Parish-by-parish reports of giving to the Bishop's Appeal can be found in the print edition of The Evangelist.)

(7/20/06) [[In-content Ad]]