By TARA CONNOLLY
Staff writer
‘“A Roman Catholic family of faith, centered in the Holy Eucharist, faithful to the Church’s teachings, bringing the light of Christ to each other and to our community.’
“That’s the work of the appeal. It happens every day. I can’t take the credit. It’s the goodness of the people,” said Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert March 25 during the kickoff of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal (BAA) for Berks County.
An estimated 200 faithful kicked off BAA, “Because We Are Catholic,” at St. Ignatius Loyola, Reading, with the hopes of reaching the appeal’s $4.6 million goal.
The kickoff began with Mass for the Solemnity of the Annunciation celebrated by Bishop Schlert.
Concelebrants were Monsignor Edward Domin, pastor of St. Catharine of Siena, Reading; Monsignor Thomas Orsulak, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle, Reading; Monsignor Walter Scheaffer, pastor of St. Mary, Kutztown; and Father Thomas Bortz, pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola.
After Mass a light reception was held in the parish hall, where County Trust Advisors Diane Duff, Tom Henefer and Mike Mizak discussed their roles, where BAA funds go and who benefits from BAA.
Paul Acampora, secretary of the Diocesan Secretariat for Stewardship and Development, introduced the advisors and said just because people contribute to the appeal doesn’t mean they don’t have questions.
“During the past year, many believe that people are choosing not to give to the appeal. That is a falsehood. It is not true. Look around you. There are tens of thousands of people just like you who continue to give,” he said.
Henefer, an attorney for Stevens and Lee, Reading, highlighted several key points from the Declaration of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal Charitable Trust, which was formulated in 2013 by local attorney Joseph Leeson before he was appointed a federal judge. It legally outlines the protection of funds generated by BAA.
“The trust is exclusively for public ministry. Every dollar donated to the appeal has to go to a charitable organization by law,” he said.
Henefer also noted that the trust is set up to keep the assets of the trust and the assets of the Diocese separate.
“It’s called the ‘Bishop’s Annual Appeal,’ but it really doesn’t describe what the people of the Diocese do. It has nothing to do with the Bishop. It should be comforting to know that every dollar is a trust asset. It is not a diocesan asset,” he said.
“The trust was put together with a lot of care to make sure our contributions are solely used for the purpose of charity in the Diocese,” said Henefer.
Duff, co-chair of the St. Ignatius Food Pantry, member of the Board of Directors of United Way of Berks County and Berks Women in Crisis, then addressed the faithful. He said the role of the trust advisors is to oversee the donations to BAA during the course of a three-year term.
“Each trust advisor represents a county and is appointed by the Bishop. All of us come together to help the Bishop maintain the purpose of the trust, discuss where to allocate funds and talk with clergy about their concerns,” she said.
While meeting with different organizations in need, Duff said, she brings their concerns back to the Bishop and Diocesan staff, and is the point person for needy organizations to contact.
“You make a fantastic and wide impact, and your contributions make a difference in so many lives,” she said.
In his remarks, Mizak reminded the faithful that BAA raised more than $4.8 million last year for programs, projects and ministries, for children, adults and families in the five-county Diocese.
“It is time to do it all over again, ‘Because We Are Catholic,’” he said.
He noted that $2.2 million – nearly half of last year’s total – was allocated to Catholic Charities (CC), Diocese of Allentown.
According to Mizak, an estimated $850,000 was allocated to education, including scholarships, seminarian formation and to support the Diocese’s three centers for special learning.
Other funds were allocated to parish life, vocations and administrative costs.
Also, in Berks County alone, more than 100 households received support from CC.
“But if you want to feel really good about the appeal – you should look at the faces of those in need,” said Mizak.
Some of the faces include families without adequate food, an unemployed father who lost his job, a young girl facing an unplanned pregnancy, elderly persons in need of care and families who cannot afford the benefits of Catholic education.
“If you really step back and look at it – it’s about bringing Christ into their hearts and satisfying their needs,” he said.
Since portions of BAA funds remain in each county and parish, Mizak said that in Berks County two dozen students received scholarships; six seminarians received support; Aquinas Programs for students with learning disabilities are flourishing at three schools; and Kennedy House, Reading received financial gifts to support its food pantry, soup kitchen and clothing bank.
BAA supporters Robert and Doris Buehrer, parishioners of St. John Baptist de la Salle, Shillington, have been donating to the appeal for the better part of their 67-year marriage.
“We aren’t rich by any means, but we give because we see all the good that the Catholic Church does,” said Robert.
“This is our Church. This is Christ’s Church. If we aren’t here to help, who is going to do it?” he said.
“We are in a position to help a little bit. And because we are blessed, we must help others,” said Doris.
To make a gift to BAA click here, to learn more visit www.faithhopecharitygives.org.
