By Chris J. Kellerman
Special to The Texas Catholic

Dona Martinez, a parishioner at Holy Trinity Church, says there is one major reason she donates to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries.
 
“It keeps me from having to write 50 checks instead of one,” she said with a laugh.

Martinez is only half kidding. The Bishop’s Annual Appeal supports more than 20 ministries of the Diocese of Dallas, grouped in four major categories: social services, Catholic ministries, Catholic education, and priest and deacon formation.

That means every dollar goes a long way.

And none of the donations to the Appeal will go to administrative costs or legal fees and settlements. All contributions will go directly to programs supported by the Appeal, such as hospital ministries, tuition assistance for low-income Catholic school students, and services at Catholic Charities that assist the elderly, families and children in need.

Sister Mary Anne Owens, SSND, executive director of Catholic Charities of Dallas, said the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is crucial to funding the work of Catholic Charities.

“The bishop’s appeal really does aid us in providing about 20 different programs throughout the community,” Sister Mary Anne said. “Many of those programs would be unfunded without the support from the Bishop’s Appeal.”

Spreading the gifts

Besides providing help to Catholic Charities and other social ministries throughout the diocese, the appeal supports priest and deacon formation. Michael Baynham, a sophomore at Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, is grateful that the Bishop’s Appeal helps pay for seminarians’ education.

“It’s helpful because it takes away the distraction of financial burden from us,” Baynham said. “That way, we can focus more on our studies and our spiritual and pastoral formation.”

The Appeal also fully funds the education of deacons and helps provide continuing education for priests, along with support for youth ministry and catechetical services.

Paul Vitanza, director of the Bishop’s Appeal, said the campaign raised more than $5 million last year. Out of about 175,000 families in the Diocese of Dallas, however, only about 26,500 participated in the Appeal. This year, Bishop Kevin J. Farrell is asking more families to get involved.

“We’ve been doing this for 38 years, and the need continues to be there,” Vitanza said.

Dr. Charles Galvin, a parishioner at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, said supporting the needs of the Diocese of Dallas means more than just donating to one’s parish.

“I think all of us should feel not just a responsibility to our parish, but also to the diocese,” Galvin said. “There are many diocesan organizations that depend upon the generosity of the total population.”

Dr. Galvin and his wife, Peggy, are active supporters of the Appeal. Dr. Galvin was a member of the appeal committee for several years. During that time, he not only grew more aware of the needs of the diocese, but he also saw how well those needs were met by the programs supported by the appeal.

“People can make their contributions and feel confident that what is advertised as a need is really and truly a need and is being met by the people of the diocese,” he said.

Tradition of giving

Dona Martinez agrees.

She and her husband, Reuben, were married for nearly 55 years and always supported the needs of the diocese. When her husband died last year, there was no question for Dona as to whether or not to continue her family’s tradition of giving.

And for her, donating to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is the best place to continue that tradition.

“I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to donate,” she said.

Parishioners can donate to the Appeal using pledge cards provided at all Masses across the diocese the weekend of Feb. 6-7.

Donations also can be made at http://www.cathdal.org.

Chris J. Kellerman of Irving is a regular contributor to The Texas Catholic.

(c) 2010 The Texas Catholic