2 5 TH A N N I V E R S A R Y
Bishop launches annual appeal
with theme, ‘In Giving, We Receive’
Campaign goal of $5.3 million will support ministries of Diocese
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Bishop Matthew H. Clark and officials from the Roman Catholic Diocese
of Rochester today announced a goal of $5.3 million for the 2005-06 annual diocesan ministries
appeal (TGA), which reaches out to Catholics throughout the 12-county diocese. The goal was
announced at a news conference held at Good Shepherd School in Henrietta.
“Roman Catholics in our diocese have shown a tremendous generosity since the beginning of the
Thanks Giving Appeal in the early 1980s,” Bishop Clark said. “I am very grateful. Over the past
25 years, this generosity has helped feed our poor, educate our youth, encourage vocations,
fortified families and strengthened our parishes. We cannot do what we do without the people
who support the appeal.”
The Bishop continued, “This year’s theme, In Giving We Receive, gets to the heart of what it
means to be Catholic, reminding us to support one another and to thank God for God’s
generosity by sharing with others. The annual appeal is an important opportunity to support each
other, those most in need and our individual parishes.”
Bishop Clark told reporters that the children who surrounded him at the news conference
symbolize the future of the church and the need to build it up for generations to come, as wells as
continuity — that their parents and generations before them have sacrificed much and invested
generously so the crucial work of the Church can flourish.
Brochures and pledge cards are being distributed to the approximately 125,000 Catholic
households in the diocese, and personal appeals will be made at the parish level over the course
of the next several weeks.
Contributions to the appeal enable the diocese to provide critical support to parishes, including
training and support for catechetical leaders, youth ministry opportunities, migrant ministry,
grants to inner city parishes, and support for the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
program. It also funds the pastoral planning process, which enables Catholic faith communities
throughout 12 counties to face common challenges and maintain vitality in an era of declining
clergy and resources. A large allocation from the Appeal is directed to Catholic Charities, which
provides outreach to the poor and needy through regional offices located throughout the diocese.
In addition, the appeal delivers support to the diocesan Catholic Schools, by helping to fund
administrative services for Catholic elementary and junior high schools.