SAN DIEGO — The Annual Catholic Appeal will kick off the weekend of February 18-19. By the end of the year, the Diocese of San Diego expects to raise $3.5 million, which will provide the necessary funds to continue to support Catholic education, clergy formation and support, faith formation, and Catholic Charities.
Although this year’s theme is “Living Our Faith”, it might as well have been “Many Hands Make Lighter Work”. The collection supports ministries that benefit all parishes, but would be impractical and inefficient if offered individually by parishes.
“No parish can do this alone, and we wouldn’t want them to do it either, because it’s too much effort,” said Manny Aguilar, director of the diocesan Stewardship Office.
“It’s much easier if we do it together,” he added.
Each of the nearly 100 parishes in the diocese has been assigned a financial goal to meet. If parishes exceed their goals, the surplus can be retained for their own needs.
Aguilar commented that the collection generally exceeds the goal of 3.5 million dollars. In the years before the pandemic, the collection raised about $5.5 million in total, with surpluses returned to parishes.
In 2020 and 2021, around $4.8 million and $4.9 million were raised, respectively. But the 2022 campaign raised about $5.2 million.
“We are very encouraged and grateful for donors who are living their faith by sharing their time, talent and treasure,” Aguilar said of those who contributed to last year’s collection, acknowledging the difficulties associated with the pandemic.
Of the $3.5 million goal this year, one million has been earmarked for each of the following ministries: Catholic schools, seminarian formation and support for retired priests, and faith formation. The remaining $500,000 is for Catholic Charities.
More than 14,000 students attend one of the Diocese of San Diego’s 41 elementary schools and three high schools. Those educational institutions distinguished themselves by opening their doors for in-person instruction after the pandemic a year earlier than most public schools.
Last year, the diocese ordained two men to the priesthood and four to the transitional diaconate. Financial support for its formation came from the annual collection. In addition to investing in future priests, the collection helps the diocese support dozens of retired priests.
About 1,000 people from San Diego and Imperial counties joined the Catholic Church at last year’s Easter Vigil, having attended faith formation classes in preparation for this life-changing step.
Last year, Catholic Charities provided nearly 317,000 pounds of food through its Emergency Food Distribution Network, opened a new shelter for homeless women in San Diego, and has continued to help asylum seekers and refugees, among many others. other initiatives and programs.
Aguilar said that these statistics are “concrete results in living our faith.”
In a letter to his flock about this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy wrote: “We are called to live out our faith in many ways. I ask that you prayerfully consider supporting this splendid work of the Lord.”
Donations to the Annual Catholic Appeal can be made by cash, check, credit card, stock, or IRA. For more information or to make a donation, visit sdcatholic.org/giving/annual-catholic-appeal
