FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the Catholic Appeal

What is the Catholic Appeal?
What are the central ministries?
Why is the Catholic Appeal important?
Why is it important to support both the Catholic Appeal and my parish?
How does my parish benefit?
How much should I contribute?

What is the Catholic Appeal?

The Catholic Appeal is the annual campaign that supports the 50 central ministries carrying out the mission of our Church in the Archdiocese of Boston.

What are the central ministries?

Central Ministries, are those serving parishes and the work of the Church beyond parish boundaries. The ministries help our Church in the following ways: Enriching Parish Life Strengthening Families Inspiring and Educating Future Generations Advancing Church Leadership

Why is the Catholic Appeal important?

Just as the weekly offertory is essential in helping a parish carry out its mission, the Appeal is essential to the work of the Archdiocesan Church. Through the Appeal, Catholics help support ministries serving our 288 parishes in 144 cities and towns, 121 Catholic elementary and secondary schools, and thousands of Catholics of all ages in many life circumstances.

Why is it important to support both the Catholic Appeal and my parish?

Parish gifts comprise an essential source of funds that enliven the sacramental life of the parish community and help defray costs that a parish directly incurs. In a similar way, gifts to the Catholic Appeal help support additional programs and services that strengthen parish programs and ministries that serve many throughout the wider Catholic community. Both need our support.

How does my parish benefit?

Many of the ministries supported by the Appeal are carried out in parishes. Some of these ministries include the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life, which presents the program for small faith sharing groups, currently Why Catholic?; the Office of Religious Education, which oversees programs that teach the fundamentals of our Catholic faith to more than 110,000 children; and the Marriage Ministries, which facilitates marriage preparation programs for hundreds of engaged couples each year. There are other ministries that help your pastor and parish staff more directly, such as Parish Financial Services and Property Management. All these services have a tremendous impact on the vibrancy of parish life. In addition, when parishes exceed their Appeal goal, they receive a portion of the excess funds back. These funds help supplement a variety of parish needs, such as repairs to the Church or youth summer projects.

How much should I contribute?

Everyone’s circumstances are different. The chart below is for your consideration in planning your gift. Remember that pledges can be made over a period of 10 months. Gifts can be made by cash, check, credit card, and appreciated securities.

2013 Catholic Appeal – Suggested Giving