CHARLOTTE — Last year was a record for the Diocesan Support Appeal campaign which concluded Dec. 31. The theme, “Whatsoever you do,” highlighted the Jubilee Year of Mercy celebrated by the universal Church in 2016, emphasizing the works of mercy.
The 2016 DSA campaign received $5,760,369 from 17,360 donors across the diocese – nine percent over the campaign goal of $5,300,000 and the most ever raised in this annual appeal.
Overall, 60 percent of parishes across the diocese reached or exceeded their goal. The average DSA gift was $321.
The annual campaign funds more than 50 programs, including the core operations of 23 ministries and agencies that serve thousands of people across the diocese – most notably, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte for its counseling, food pantries, pregnancy support, refugee resettlement, elder ministry, Respect Life and other programs, as well as the programs and ministries of the Education Vicariate. The DSA also supports multicultural ministries, seminarian education, the permanent diaconate, the annual Eucharistic Congress, and the diocese’s housing corporation.
“The ministries and programs that are financially supported by the DSA are the instruments we use to promulgate many of the corporal works of mercy throughout the diocese. The generosity shown through donations that come to the DSA from all corners of the diocese is truly a blessing,” said Kerry Ann Tornesello, associate director of development for the diocese.
Parishioners in all 92 parishes and missions in the Charlotte diocese fund the annual DSA.
Parishes that exceed their goal keep the extra funds they collect, while parishes that fall short of their goal in donations from parishioners make up the shortfall from their operating budgets.
Some of the parishes receiving rebate funds include St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem, St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville, Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte, and St. Mark Church in Huntersville. Others also included St. Mary Church in Shelby, St. Paul the Apostle Church in Greensboro, St. Philip Church in Statesville, Good Shepherd Mission in King, and St. John Baptist de la Salle Church in North Wilkesboro.
Father Frank O’Rourke, pastor of St. Gabriel Church, recently expressed his gratitude to his parishioners for helping exceed the parish goal, telling them that many are blessed through their generosity.
“We have worked at broadening our base of support by use of mailings, bulletin and pulpit announcements, signage, etc.,” he explained. “With over 1,000 households participating, we are close to having one-third of our registered households contributing.”
“We see the DSA as an opportunity to have parishioners see themselves as part of the broader Church and identify with their being part of the Diocese of Charlotte. Funds raised in excess of our goal are mainly used to respond to needs similar to those funded through the DSA,” he said.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter