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	Catholic Ministries Appeal Ends, Contributions Still Coming in By David Eck The Catholic Telegraph August 1, 2008 http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/tct/aug0108/080108appeals.html ARCHDIOCESE – The parish portion of the Catholic Ministries Appeal has ended, but contributions to the fund drive will continue through the rest of the year. The appeal, which began in Lent, has raised $2.5 million, about 65 percent of its $3.77 million goal, said Michael Vanderburgh, director of the archdiocesan Department of Stewardship Services. The appeal supports college campus ministries, hospital/prison chaplains, pastoral ministries education, retired priests, Catholic Social Services and St. Rita School for the Deaf. The appeal’s shortfall is not expected to immediately have an impact on ministries. "We will be able to overcome the deficit in the short term," Vanderburgh said. "We’re fortunate that the archdiocese has received several bequests over the last year which will help…those vital ministries. And we’re hopeful that Catholics will continue to respond to the CMA via the website." Donations can be made through www.catholicappeal.info. Every dollar donated goes to the ministries, as no administrative cost or other overhead is taken. The name of the drive was changed this year, which may have contributed to the shortfall, Vanderburgh said. Most recently it was known as the Archdiocesan Annual Fund, but for years it was called the Archbishop’s Annual Fund Drive. The new name better reflects the appeal’s purpose, Vanderburgh said. Another possible reason for the shortfall is turnover in the department’s administration. The economy didn’t play a significant role in the shortfall, Vanderburgh said, nor did the priest sex abuse scandal. "I get the sense most of our parishioners are satisfied that we have addressed their concerns from the past and we are diligent in properly safeguarding their concerns as we move forward," he said. Despite the shortfall, so far, more than 50 parishes have exceeded their goal, records show. St. Joseph Parish in Dayton nearly doubled its parish goal, attaining the highest percentage of goal of any parish. The Church of the Incarnation in Centerville has raised the most money of any parish, followed by St. Charles Borromeo in Kettering. Planning for next year’s appeal is underway, and will utilize more resources. Among the topics being discussed by an advisory committee of nine pastors and one parish business manager is parish goals. "We’re (moving) closer to finding an objective method for setting individual parish goals," Vanderburgh said. "We want to have even-handed expectations based on the size of parishes and their means." The ministries, by their nature, are ones that can be more easily provided regionally than through individual parishes. The parishes’ collective efforts to support the ministries make them possible, Vanderburgh said. The appeal also allows wider participation from parishioners across the archdiocese. "This is a concrete way that everyone can participate in the regional ministries of our local church," Vanderburgh said. "Not everyone has the time to volunteer for those ministries or otherwise assist those ministries, but everyone has an opportunity to financially contribute to those ministries. Everyone can participate financially to the extent that their means will allow."
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