CHICAGO (March 18, 2004) - The Archdiocese of Chicago has launched its Annual Catholic Appeal with the objective of raising $8 million to help pay operating costs for more than 100 ministries, as well as to provide support for schools and parishes in need. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Contributing to the Greater Good.”

“Through the Appeal, we are called to share with those who are less fortunate a portion of the gifts that the Lord has blessed us with,” said Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, in a letter to the faithful. “Every day, in our name, prisoners are visited and counseled. Young adults grow in their faith through Campus Ministry. Mass is signed for the deaf in 36 parishes, and, in more than 115 parishes, religious education programs are tailored to children with special needs.”

The Annual Catholic Appeal is the one archdiocesan campaign to fund these many ministries.

“When someone gives to the Appeal, their gift does so much,” explained Ray Coughlin, Director of Stewardship and Development for the Archdiocese. “It benefits their own parish by supporting ongoing education and formation for the priests, deacons and lay ministers. It passes on the faith through Catholic schools and religious education. It helps the poor, both locally and around the world. The Appeal is part of the enormous good the Catholic Church does every day in Cook and Lake counties.”

Helping to spread the word of this year’s appeal are the advertising agencies Ebel Signorelli Welke (ESW) and Rain Communications. ESW created television, radio and print ads that highlight the depth and breadth of the social ministries benefiting from the Annual Catholic Appeal, while Rain developed a print campaign targeted to help priests better understand the Appeal. Both firms donated their services and all of the costs involved with these marketing outreaches.

Contributions to the Appeal are distributed in many ways:

Catholic Education: Gifts to the Annual Catholic Appeal provide $3.5 million to support Catholic schools serving economically disadvantaged communities. Funds are used for emergency building repairs and operating expenses to keep schools affordable and accessible. Donations also support the Office for Catechesis, which provides training and support materials for parish directors of religious education and catechists in parish religious education programs.

Sustaining Parishes: Through the Annual Catholic Appeal, $500,000 in capital grants is provided to parishes serving economically disadvantaged communities. Gifts to the Appeal help when parishes with few resources suffer a financial crisis due to an emergency or costly building repairs.

Feeding the Hungry: Gifts to the Annual Catholic Appeal provide $640,000 to help poverty-stricken people around the world obtain food, clothing and shelter through the programs of Catholic Relief Services.

Encouraging Vocations: Appeal funds help to encourage and support those who have heard God's call to the ordained priesthood and to consecrated life.
Supporting Ministries: Donations help support more than 100 ministries that help people and parishes work to meet the needs of the more than 2,000,000 Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago.