By Penny Wiegert
Editor
DIOCESE—As the You Will Be My Witnesses Campaign winds down through its first wave, there is much to be enthusiastic about.
According to Claudia Broman, diocesan director of Charitable Giving, “We now have seven parishes from Wave One at 100 percent or more to their pledge goal.”
An update in the You Will Be My Witnesses Volunteer Newsletter reported that as of Feb. 10, $17.3 million has been raised so far. “This represents 29 percent to our total goal of $60 million. We are also thrilled to share that we are over 83 percent in volunteer participation.”
The final Wave One commitment weekend for parishes was held Feb. 14-15. Pastors and parish leaders are excited about what their participation in the campaign will mean for their parishes. There were 10 parishes in Wave One raising more than $9 million.
Broman spoke to the early success of the campaign, saying, “Our diocese is extremely grateful for the work Wave One parishes and volunteers have put into this campaign. Parishes reaching their goals are large and small, predominantly Hispanic and not, urban and rural — their campaign efforts are showing how together in our diversity we can do great things for our Church.”
Wave Two of the campaign includes 29 parishes. (See list) All Wave Two pastors have received campaign guidelines and policies, a campaign manual, timeline reminders, and they have scheduled or are working to schedule meetings to assemble volunteers during April.
“It was easy to connect the campaign goals with themes that resonate across our parish,” Father John Gow, pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Amboy, said in the volunteer newsletter. St. Patrick Parish was part of Wave One.
Father Gow said in the newsletter that “once again, our volunteers stepped up and worked incredibly hard to make this happen.” Their efforts paid off: more than 29 percent of parish families made pledges exceeding the typical diocesan campaign participation range of 15–22 percent.
By surpassing their goal, and as pledges are paid, St. Patrick Parish along with St. Thomas Aquinas, Freeport; St. Flannen, Harmon; St. Patrick, Rochelle; Holy Family, Rockford; St. Peter, South Beloit; and St.Mary, Walton, will be able to move forward with important long-term building needs and complete deferred maintenance.
Each diocesan parish will receive 40 percent of the funds they raise to address their own local priorities. This is a substantial increase from the United in Faith diocesan campaign 25 years ago, when the parish share was 10 percent.
The increased parish support was shaped by a thorough assessment completed in summer 2024, which included input from clergy, parish staff, and lay leaders across the diocese. Based on their feedback, the Clergy Committee recommended the parish share amount for the campaign to Bishop David J. Malloy.
“Bishop [Malloy] realizes that evangelization happens at the parish level,” said Father Phillip Kaim, chair of the Clergy Committee and pastor of Holy Family Parish in Rockford. “From dollar one, every dollar raised, 40 percent will go to
the parish.”
Since the You Will Be My Witnesses Campaign was announced, parishes have considered how their share will be used. Some are planning to address overdue maintenance needs such as replacing aging HVAC systems or upgrading windows. Others are focusing on beautifying sanctuaries or creating long-term maintenance or endowment funds to support ministry and staffing into the future.
“Now you can really allow your parish to thrive with some things that you can spend resources on, and really enhance the worship environment,” Father Kaim said.
Broman added, “By reinvesting in local communities, the parish share ensures that the fruits of the campaign will be seen and felt in each church, building vibrant spaces for worship, formation, and evangelization for years to come.”
For more information, visit youwillbemywitnesses.org
