Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, April 12, 2002 Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries The sixth “Annual Bishop’s Appeal” kicks off this weekend in parishes around the diocese with appeals from the pulpit as diocesan Catholics are asked to prepare to open their wallets, purses and hearts April 20-21 (Commitment Sunday) to make a host of ministries in the diocese possible. The appeal, which was launched despite initial reservations on the part of some within the diocese six years ago that such an appeal could be successful in difficult economic times, has exceeded its goal every year. The goal for the 2002 Appeal is $3.5 million, up from $3.4 million last year when $3.9 million was pledged. $3.6 million of that amount has been collected. The bulk of the monies fund Catholic Charities’ ministries, while the balance aids diocesan ministries and programs and directly aids parish communities. “The generosity of the people in this diocese continues to be very impressive and highly edifying,” Bishop Thomas J. Tobin told the Exponent during a recent interview. “I felt that we had the potential in this diocese to do a lot more than we had been doing, and the faithful have responded to that. I am so grateful for the way it has grown.” Without the annual campaign, he said, the diocese “would have to either drastically cut back our services or…find other sources of revenue, particularly by taxing our parishes.” Instead, the Annual Bishop’s Appeal has allowed the diocese to “continue multiple services, programs and ministries” while simultaneously reducing assessments placed on parishes, he pointed out. The “rebate” aspect of the appeal, in which parishes which exceed their goal are given back tax-free monies for parish use, has been especially popular, the bishop added. The monies have been used for capital improvements, maintenance of parish facilities, and to support and expand ministries, as well as for payment of other financial obligations and for local charitable efforts. “That has been a real bonus to our parishes,” Bishop Tobin said. “Some $2.5 million has been rebated since the Annual Bishop’s Appeal was begun.” The bishop said a goal for this year’s campaign is to increase the amount of participation, which currently stands at about 38-39 percent. “That is very good relative to other diocesan appeals across the country,” he said, “but I would like to see us do better. I would hope to see us get to 45 or 50 percent of our diocesan households for this appeal that is so critical to the life of our diocesan Church. It’s really one of the criteria for full participation in the life of the diocesan Church – responding to the request of the bishop for these charitable or pastoral works.” Bishop Tobin said no new ministries are contemplated at this time, but current ministries require ongoing support. In recent years, the appeal has made possible the initiation and maintenance of youth ministry, prison ministry, and an expanded pro-life effort. The diocese has been able to give grants to some elementary schools, and increase efforts to promote vocations to the priesthood. If diocesan Catholics continue their generous support for the annual appeal, the bishop said, other dreams might become possible in the future. Topping his personal “wish list” would be a diocesan-owned retreat center. “We have some very adequate facilities that belong to religious communities around the diocese but, as a diocesan family, as a diocesan Church, we have no place to describe as a retreat or renewal center,” he said. “I think a diocese of this size should have something like that.” Bishop Tobin also sees a pressing need to do more with young adults and with marriage and family ministry, programs which “touch almost everyone in the diocese in one way or another.” He hopes to also be able to give more direct aid to diocesan schools. “There are so many things that we can and should be doing, and the financial resources we have help us to do that,” he said. While some question the need to emphasize money each year at this time, the bishop said, “we have to remind ourselves that this money is not for the sake of money itself but to support a mission. If we did not have financial resources, if we did not have a balanced budget, none of this could take place.” Pat Palombo, diocesan director of development and stewardship, echoed Bishop’s Tobin’s point that the appeal has become such a successful part of diocesan life in the past five years. “Truly,” he said, “the Holy Spirit plays a role in motivating the generous response to the appeal. As in every successful endeavor, the path to success begins at the top. Each year Bishop Tobin makes a sincere, faith-filled appeal to every member of our diocesan family. He makes a strong case for support of his appeal and is openly accountable for how the dollars raised make a significant impact on the life of the Church in the Diocese of Youngstown.” Palombo likewise praised diocesan pastors and members of the clergy for “generously supporting our Bishop’s Appeal and encouraging [diocesan] Catholics to join them.” Ultimately, he said, it is the “faith and trust our Catholic people have in their priests and Bishop Tobin that motivate them to respond so generously to the Appeal.” Palombo noted that the initial response to the 2002 Appeal “has surpassed the level of generosity demonstrated at this time last year in our most successful 2001 Appeal.” He added: “I am convinced that once again the Holy Spirit is calling on all of us to generously support the work of our Lord Jesus that is made possible by our Bishop’s Appeal. Please join us in responding to that call.” A four-page pullout section, detailing the many ministries within the diocese that are made possible by the donations of individual Catholics to the Annual Bishop’s Appeal, appears on pages 1-4A of this week’s Catholic Exponent.   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001