Diocese studying major stewardship effort

The goal would be to raise tens of millions of dollars to meet the needs of the Church in the next century.

The Bishop envisions a stewardship program with six components:

1. continuing the annual Bishop's Appeal, which funds diocesan programs in such areas as Catholic education, faith formation and care for the poor;

2. introducing a diocesan-wide increased offertory drive next October;

3. inaugurating a major gifts campaign in January 2000;

4. beginning a diocesan-wide capital campaign in the fall of 2000;

5. continuing the work of the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, which seeks major gifts from individual donors; and

6. affirming and intensifying stewardship and development at the parish level.

In recent regional meetings with parish leadership, Bishop Hubbard called fund-raising "an essential part of building, maintaining and sustaining" the Church's ministries in such areas as religious education, caring for the needy and carrying out the work of Christ in the modern world.

That work must be rooted, he added, in the "concept and theology of stewardship, which calls us to share generously our blessings with the Lord and the faith community God established to continue Jesus's mission."

Bishop Hubbard called this comprehensive, six-pronged approach to stewardship long overdue and noted that other institutions in the area -- including colleges, hospitals and individual parishes -- have "moved forward aggressively with their fund-raising efforts."

Similar efforts

Those campaigns that have concluded "met and, in most cases, exceeded their goals," Bishop Hubbard told the parish leaders, adding that the Albany Diocese is "in as good a position as any, if not far better than most," in terms of planning for the future, the quality of services provided and the potential for giving.

Taking all of those factors into account, the Bishop feels that "the time is ripe for presenting our people with a comprehensive approach to stewardship." In particular, he cited the 1997 Sesquicentennial celebration, which reminded Catholics "of the rich spiritual heritage" of the Diocese; the Renew 2000/Follow Me programs currently underway in parishes; and the upcoming Jubilee Year of 2000.

Sacrifices

To study these plans, the Bishop has appointed three committees -- a parish committee, a Cathedral committee and a major gifts committee -- which will report to an already existing steering committee that has been studying the financial needs of the Diocese and recommended this major effort to Bishop Hubbard. The three committees, made up of more than 50 people, begin meeting next week.

(06-17-99) [[In-content Ad]]