By Voice staff

Catholics throughout the Oakland Diocese will have an opportunity to show their financial support for various diocesan ministries during the annual Bishop’s Appeal which kicks off, Feb. 13-14. The money raised will help fund low-income schools and parishes, seminarians and retired priests, and family ministries, including CYO and marriage preparation.

“Because of last year’s disastrous economy, our need to provide assistance is even greater despite drastic reductions of diocesan expenses,” wrote Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone in a letter to parishioners.

This year’s goal is $2.1 million, said John Neudecker, diocesan director of development. He said that unlike most U.S. dioceses, Oakland’s Appeal is completely voluntary. Each parish is asked to achieve a goal based on its annual income, but there are no penalties for those who do not. All monies that exceed a parish’s goal are returned to the parish.

In 2009, $1.6 million of the $2.1 million goal was raised by mid-January 2010.
Despite declining revenue from the Appeal in the past two years, the diocese maintained its usual level of subsidy to programs benefitting from the Appeal, said Neudecker. That meant “digging deeper into funds derived from other sources, which are also shrinking,’ he said.

Neudecker likened the challenge of this year’s Appeal to a struggling head of household trying to meet all of its monthly expenses. “In challenging times, every member of the family has to pitch in,” he said. “A stunning upturn in support of the Bishop’s Appeal is the miracle that would restore our ability to offer sustenance to our local Church wherever it is needed,” he said.

In his letter, Bishop Cordileone focused especially on the Appeal’s support of 24 seminarians and more than 40 retired priests. “Without our priests, our parishes and schools could not exist, nor could the many valuable family and social ministries supported by the Appeal,” he said.

Donations and pledges can be made in parishes during Appeal weekend and throughout the year at the Appeal website: www.oakbishop.org/appeal.htm

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