Relaunch of Annual Appeal to Benefit Parishes

This September, the Diocese of Kalamazoo will relaunch its annual appeal with a new structure; all monies raised over 50 percent of the parish goal will be returned to the parish. Bishop Bradley, who delayed the appeal, which was set to launch this past April, said this change, which will account for a 50 percent reduction in the diocesan operating budget, is necessary to secure the financial stability of the parishes.

“During these unprecedented times of uncertainty and crisis, we continue to assess all the ways to further our shared mission to strengthen the Body of Christ in the Diocese of Kalamazoo and continue the good works of the Church,” he wrote in a letter to the clergy announcing the change.

“As I have said many times before, strong Parishes equal a strong Diocese.”

The Bishop’s Annual Appeal is the sole and primary income source to support the ministries, programs and services of the diocese. The relaunch of the appeal will take place this September with mailing materials arriving in registered parishioners homes mid-September.

This new direction means the diocesan budget supported by the Bishop’s Annual Appeal funding for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year will be reduced by 50 percent.

The theme for this year is “Living the Mission of the Eucharist, which speaks to the mission we receive in the Eucharist to put our Catholic faith in action,” notes Tom Dowdall, Director of Stewardship and Development.

Gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal support the cost of seminarian education, diocesan-wide programs such as the Institute of Missionary Discipleship and Southwest Michigan Catholic magazine which is offered free of charge to all registered parishioner households and much more.