The Importance of the Catholic Services Appeal
The Catholic Services Appeal is the annual invitation to the people of the Archdiocese of Louisville to support the ministries and programs offered through the local Church. As one of the three principal sources of funding for the work of archdiocesan agencies and offices, the Appeal plays a vital role in the ability of the Archdiocese to carry out its more than one hundred ministries and programs that seek to bring Christ to others.
Families, Individuals, Parishes, and Schools Benefit from the Appeal
Archdiocesan programs and ministries funded by the Catholic Services Appeal benefit families, individuals, parishes and schools throughout the Archdiocese of Louisville. Here is a small sampling of the work that was accomplished during the past year:
Charity and Outreach
- Provided emergency assistance to 15,476 people for rent, utilities, food, clothing, personal and household items, and prescriptions.
- Responded to concerns and assisted with mediation for 8,000 residents in long-term care facilities.
- Provided 688 mothers-to-be with education, information and counseling, baby items, and referral to community agencies.
- Sponsored four “Back to School Fairs” at the Catholic Enrichment Center and in the rural community serving more than 700 families.
- Assisted 2,572 low-income immigrants.
Strengthening Families and Individuals
- Held marriage preparation classes and retreats for 457 couples and marriage enrichment opportunities for 160 couples.
- Trained more than 100 individuals for marriage preparation, enrichment, and natural family planning ministries.
- Provided counseling services for 532 clients.
- Visited 2,851 persons in 3 hospitals utilizing Pastoral Care Hospital Teams.
- Hosted family groups at the Catholic Enrichment Center to provide effective techniques that meet the challenges of urban child rearing and grandparents raising grandchildren.
- Partnered with the University of Louisville to close the education gap among Hispanics and African Americans, which resulted in 55 students attending a special program at the Catholic Enrichment Center.
Creating a Culture of Religious Vocations
- Ordained 1 man to the priesthood and four to the diaconate in preparation for the priesthood along with 15 men as permanent deacons.
- Hosted 18 men in a discernment group that gathers for prayer, fellowship and conversation those who are interested in a vocation to the priesthood.
- Launched the “Called by Name” project to identify college-aged young men who may be discerning God’s call in their lives.
- Held the “Men for Christ” retreat at Saint Meinrad for 19 young men and the ‘Guys for God” high school discernment retreat for 15 teens.
- Coordinated presentations on the priesthood and religious life by diocesan and religious order priests, and sisters, in parishes, schools, and on college campuses, visiting approximately 4,000 students.
Lifelong Formation and Education
- Launched the Why Catholic? process in the Archdiocese as an effort to help form and support parishioners in their faith journey.
- 950 participants were trained as small community leaders for Why Catholic
- 30 participants were trained as small group leaders for ¿Por qué ser católico?
- 9,000 participants in more than 90 parishes participated in Why Catholic Small Groups
- 200 participants in 7 parishes participated in ¿Por qué ser católico?
- Provided 1,625 resources through the archdiocesan media/resource center
- Offered 168 adult learning classes with a total attendance of 2,115 attendees.
- Trained 68 catechists who completed the requirements for catechist certification – 22 associate catechists, 23 advanced catechists and 23 master catechists.
- Provided continuing education in faith formation for 474 Catholic school religion teachers.
- Published a manual on Young Adult Ministry for parish leaders.
- Facilitated more than 80 professional development sessions for over 2,000 Catholic school educators during the 2011 Summer Institute.
Worship, Prayer, and Evangelization
- Welcomed 504 new members who entered the Church at the Easter Vigil at the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion. Forty additional individuals were received throughout the year, making a total of 544 initiations for the Archdiocese.
- Prepared and published materials for the implementation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, including a parish training guide, presbyteral resource guide, deacon guide, liturgical musicians guide, and a parishioner’s guide.
- Planned and hosted the National Association of Pastoral Musicians Meeting in July 2011, which welcomed 3,100 participants to Louisville and utilized the services of 400 volunteers from local parishes.
- Published and promulgated the 1st archdiocesan-wide Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry.
- Held a prayer vigil with 250 in attendance and joined with Catholics throughout the world in answer to special invitation from Pope Benedict XVI to pray for all nascent human life.
Summary
Whether serving the spiritual or human needs of families and individuals, or providing support services and resources to our parishes or schools, the agencies and offices of the Archdiocese of Louisville are carrying on the work that Christ has entrusted to His Church. It is work that cannot be accomplished by any single parish; however,
