DIOCESE—Each year Catholics in the Rockford Diocese are asked to make financial gifts to help diocesan ministries continue their important work. These gifts support diocesan ministries that form priests, affirm and form our youth, support life, build strong marriages, and help the poor and marginalized. 

 

The 2017 goal was $6,394,344 and the theme, “The Lord is With Us.” 

 

The Charitable Giving Office welcomed a new director midway through the appeal, Denise Dobrowolski, who said she has been “very encouraged” by the wonderful response of diocesan Catholics.

 

“Donations to our annual Diocesan Appeal support 27 offices and agencies that provide our parishes with the ministries and services that no single parish could provide on their own,” she said. 

 

“I am so impressed by the hard work of our parishes and the generous support of the faithful as we recently approached 95 percent of our 2017 Diocesan Appeal goal. 

 

“It has been a blessing to be able to assist all the ministries of church through this work and I look forward to preparing materials for the 2018 appeal,” she said.

 

Dobrowolski reports the 2017 appeal  reached 95.3 percent of the goal by Jan. 1 this year.

 

Most notable in that news, Dobrowolski says is that 44 parishes have surpassed their goals for the appeal. 

 

Twenty-one parishes are at  90 percent of their goal and some have had significant success. One of those success stories is St. Patrick Parish in Maytown. 

 

Dobrowolski says that unfortunately the parish did not get listed in the Office of Charitable Giving’s fall parish overview published in The Observer, however, even with the omission, the parish has achieved 301.8 percent of their goal in pledges and payments.

 

“It is so heartening to see parishes like Maytown, participate so generously in the work of diocesan ministries,” Dobrowolski said.

 

Gifts can still be made to the 2017 appeal which officially ends on May 31, 2018. 

 

Right now, Dobrowolski says her office is busy and looking forward to the 2018 Annual Appeal which begins with Pledge Weekend on May 5-6. 

 

“Our 2018 theme is “Love One Another” and this year’s video will feature a number of ministries that benefit from your generous contributions to the annual Diocesan Appeal,” she said.

 

For questions about the Annual Diocesan appeal or information on how to make financial gifts to the Diocese of Rockford contact The Office of Charitable Giving at 815-399-4300.