Parishes hosting phonathons to raise Bishop's Annual Appeal funds
Reviewing materials at the June 11 Bishop’s Annual Appeal (BAA) phonathon at Holy Guardian Angels, Reading are, from left: Joelle Guiles-Lis, parishioner of St. Peter the Apostle, Reading; Erica Gates, director of Catholic school marketing and enrollment management; Barbara Ann Shotwell, senior director, major and planned giving; and John Coco, parishioner of St. Peter the Apostle. (Photo by Richard Patrick)
Parish volunteers are reaching out to their fellow parishioners this month in support of those assisted by the ministries of the Diocese of Allentown. Every week in June, parishes throughout the diocese are hosting phonathons to raise funds for the 2012 Bishop's Annual Appeal (BAA).
"The phonathons are a great way to reach out to our donors to let them know how important their gifts to the BAA are to those in need in the five counties of the diocese," said James Friend, secretary of the diocesan Secretariat for Stewardship and Development. "We are so grateful for the time and talents of our phonathon volunteers and the parishes they represent."
Over the past two years, more than $70,000 has been raised in the phonathons through 1,133 gifts. In those two years, hundreds of donors placed more than 15,000 phone calls to parishioners asking them to consider supporting the ministries of the diocese.
"Every gift counts," said Patrick Hockenberry, director of parish stewardship and BAA. "All of our gifts together enable the diocese to provide the services that are vital to so many."
The BAA supports a variety of programs and services in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties. All gifts are applied directly to the ministries listed below. A small portion (6 percent) is also used for the administrative costs of the appeal.
Health and Human Services (48%) including: Catholic Charities (Pregnancy Support Services, Prime Time Clubs [seniors], Pastoral Outreach), Catholic Senior Housing and Healthcare Services, Holy Family Manor, Holy Family Residence, Sacred Heart Hospital and Saint Joseph Medical Center Grants, and the care of Retired and Infirmed Priests.
Catholic Life and Evangelization (13%) including: Marriage and Family Life Formation, Ministries with Persons with Disabilities, Youth/Young Adult/Campus Ministry, Adult Formation [Lay Ministry/Pastoral Formation], and the Office of Hispanic Affairs.
Education and Formation of Seminarians, Priests and Deacons (10%) including: Permanent Diaconate, Vocations, Priestly Formation and Mount St. Mary's Seminary/University, Emmitsburg, Md.
Education (23%) including: Special Education Programs (Special Learning Centers), Bishop's Catholic High School Scholarships and University Grants (The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.; DeSales University, Center Valley; and Alvernia University, Reading).
Administration (6%) including: Costs to administer the Bishop's Annual Appeal
If funds are raised in excess of budget in a given year, these funds are used for future needs of the above ministries.
Parishes who exceed their annual appeal goal receive a rebate of 50 cents per dollar raised over goal.
Phonathons were also held at St. Patrick, Pottsville; St. Mary, Kutztown; St. Joseph Regional Academy, Jim Thorpe; Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown; St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown; St. Thomas More, Allentown; and St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Easton.
Phonathons are slated for Monday, June 25, St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring; Tuesday, June 26, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bethlehem; and Thursday, June 28, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Pen Argyl.
To donate online and view the 2012 BAA video, visit website www.adbaa.org.
