Diocesan Office of Charitable Giving Holds Pre-Appeal Workshops, First Ever in Spanish
By Margarita Mendoza, El Observador Editor
April 2, 2020
AURORA—The office of Charitable Giving organized two workshops, one in English and the first ever in Spanish, at St. Rita of Cascia Parish here on March 13.
The goal was to train, communicate their office plans, and to listen to the parishes about their concerns and needs regarding the upcoming annual giving campaign for the Rockford Diocese.
“Denise (Dobrowolski) always does a great job,” said Deacon Domenic Petitti of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Aurora. “She is always very clear about what she says to us. It is so helpful in the office as far as supporting the parish and all ministries we have,” said Deacon Pettiti who was among about two dozen participants in the English language session.
“The English meeting was the Aurora Deanery training for the upcoming 2020 Diocesan Annual Appeal,” said Dobrowolski, director of the Office of Charitable Giving.
“Each year our office offers a training in each of the seven deaneries,” she said. “It is a great time to explain all that is new and exciting for the upcoming appeal, as well as answer any specific questions, and brainstorm ideas.”
In 2020, she said, “We are celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Diocesan Appeal that was first started by Bishop Arthur (J.) O’Neill in 1975.”
March 13 was the last in-person meeting of this year. “Our office was scheduled to have four more deanery trainings, but due to our current situation, we are looking to develop a web meeting,” she said.
“We got a lot of information … to plan as we move forward to 2020 in our DSA (Diocesan Stewardship Appeal). It is always a challenge every year to hit our goal, but we are going to do the best we can (in) marketing and communicating,” said Deacon Larry Motyka from Holy Cross Parish in Batavia.
“The chancery office in Rockford is trying to improve the communication with the givers in our diocese,” he added. “Also, I thought the video this year was well done. It really focuses on the clergy involved in our diocese — the priests, the seminarians, the deacons. I think that was a great improve-ment in the video.”
First Spanish workshop
The Spanish-language session was held during the second part of the morning. Speakers were Msgr. Arquímedes Vallejo, Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Ministry, and Jose Quiñones, director of giving at the Archdiocese of Chicago.
About 55 participants from parishes with Spanish-language Masses in the Rockford Diocese were able to “share ideas, experiences and develop new ways of doing things …. When we all come together, it is much more powerful and beneficial for all of us in the diocese,” said Dobrowolski.
“Fifty percent of our diocese is Hispanic, without counting the participation on Ash Wednesday, (the feast of) Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Palm Sunday,” said Msgr. Vallejo. He explained how part of the money from the annual appeal is “collected is for the poor, all the charity work of the diocese, the Catholic education.”
Thanks to those donations, he said, “Our young people can go to class and see the crucifix, can make the Sign of the Cross, learn the Christian values.”
The funds also support diocesan seminarians, Msgr. Vallejo added, explaining the need for more from the Hispanic communities in the diocese. “There is not even one (Hispanic) seminarian for the next seven years.”
Quiñones explained differences in the way that parishioners in Latin America give to the Church. There are “no parish registrations or stewardship giving.” Instead there are “alms” to help the pastor for his food and basic expenses, he said.
Quiñones also emphasized three things to consider about Hispanic stewardship.
First, “It is not true that our people do not donate, that is a myth,” he said. “Our people are often paid by the hour. Ask them if they can give two hours of work.”
Second it is important to use “technology, an electronic page to donate. Always be thankful.”
And finally, “Communicate what is being done with donations.”
Father Ruben Herrera, pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Rochelle, said people want transparency. His parishioners “need (a) detailed and easy message” to understand exactly what is happening with their donations.
“We can’t reproach them during the Mass,” he said. “Instead we should encourage them, and let them know what the money is for, how much money was collected, and lastly how the money was used. We let our community know the specific needs we have, like (a) sidewalk or bathroom.”
In some parishes, the biggest challenges are the “lack of a sense of belonging from our community and to make a single Anglo and Hispanic community,” said Valentina González from St. Mary Parish in DeKalb.
“I was incredibly pleased with the turnout for our first Hispanic Stewardship workshop,” Dobrowolski said. “This is something we wanted to put together for a while.”
She said she was “very grateful” to Father Oscar Cortes and the staff at St. Rita of Cascia Parish, and the Hispanic Ministry, for organizing the event
“We had two amazing speakers that not only presented ideas to the group, but addressed issues and answered questions from the attendees,” Dobrowolski said.
She also expressed gratitude to the participants who answered a questionnaire “so that we can develop workshops in different locations in our diocese in the future.”
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