DIOCESE—“God’s Mercy Leads Us” is the theme of the upcoming 2016 Diocesan Appeal. The appeal supports the work of the Diocese of Rockford at the diocesan level.
Diocesan administration includes ministries that give nuts-and-bolts assistance to parishes, such as the Department of Finance/Administrative Services, which provides accounting and data processing, information technology, research and planning and other services.
Other administrative offices assist ministry efforts throughout the diocese. These include the Office of Ministry Formation and the Office of the Permanent Diaconate. The Tribunal, the Vocations Office, the departments of Educational Services and of Pastoral Services and a handful of others also serve in this ministerial role and are supported through this appeal.
Catholics in the Diocese of Rockford benefit directly or indirectly from the work of all diocesan offices. Beneficiaries include youths who are preparing to receive sacraments and/or who are attending Catholic schools or receiving religious education.
Priests, deacons and lay ministers are all educated initially and on an ongoing basis through diocesan offices. Funds raised through this appeal also make it possible for Bishop Malloy to travel to and visit the parishes of the diocese.
But perhaps the diocesan office that is most obviously geared for this Year of Mercy is the Department of Social Services. This department includes Catholic Charities, Emergency Relief Programs, Immigration and Refugee Services, Long Term Care Ombudsmen Program, St. Elizabeth Catholic Community Center, and Pregnancy and Parenting Counseling.
Regular readers of The Observer have seen photos and articles highlighting these ministries’ help to those who are in need across the diocese.
Donations to the Diocesan Appeal provide God’s mercy and love through the efforts of the Department of Social Services for individuals and families in the Jubilee Year of Mercy — and every year.
A video about the 2016 Diocesan Appeal will be shown in parishes at Masses toward the end of April. Pledges and donations will begin to be accepted over the April 30-May 1 weekend.
Catholics will find pledge cards and envelopes in their mail or at their parishes. Another option is to make a gift by credit card or automatic withdrawal with easy, secure giving through the diocesan website.
“God’s Mercy Leads Us.” The Diocesan Appeal helps us respond.