Diocesan Pastoral Council Discusses Capital Campaign
DIOCESE—The Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC) took on discussion of the diocesan-wide effort to fund parishes and programs for evangelization and education through the You Will Be My Witnesses Campaign during its regular meeting Nov. 8.
After Mass celebrated by Bishop David Malloy in the Diocesan Administration Center’s Chapel, the council heard presentations from Claudia Broman, director of Charitable Giving and Dr. Kim White, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools.
Broman brought the council up-to-date on the status of the You Will Be My Witnesses (MWBMW) campaign which seeks to raise $60 million over the course of three years. The campaign will be conducted in diocesan parishes in four waves, the first of which officially began over two weekends in October and will continue to February 2026. Wave Two will be conducted from February to August 2026, Wave Three will go from August 2026 to February 2027 and the last Wave Four will run from February to August of 2027.
Broman put the amount raised thus far at approximately $8.7 million. She gave an overview of the timelines of the campaign, parish status and reviewed the role of the DPC in the campaign.
Dr. White gave a detailed presentation of how funds from the YWBMW campaign will be utilized in the diocesan department of education. Forty-nine percent ($29 million) of all funds raised during the campaign will be directed toward evangelization.
Part of the key to evangelization is solid Catholic education through parish religious education and Catholic schools, educating and forming teachers and leaders in education and educating and forming families. Dr. White provided specifics on how the funds would be used as the campaign progresses.
Council members shared how the campaign is either going or being prepared for in their own parishes, and some offered experience on assisting with the campaign in their respective parishes.
Council member John Boreen said he views the YWBMW campaign as “a spiritual campaign” and a “way to pay it forward” to the next generations of Catholics in the Diocese of Rockford.
Following the presentations and discussions, Bishop Malloy shared his reflections on Pope Leo XIV thus far, the complexity of the immigration issue in the United States and the passage of Senate Bill 1950 that moves to the Illinois Governor’s desk to legalize assisted suicide. Communication was sent out by the Rockford Diocese right after the bill passed urging Catholics to ask the Governor to veto the bill. (see page 1 of this issue)
In addition to the presentations and updates on the capital campaign, the DPC welcomed five new members: Father John Kladar, Father Martin Buntov, OFM., Conv., Deacon Bill Dall, Blanca Garcia and Jennifer Sagel.
Members of the DPC serve for three years and address matters of pastoral concern that Bishop Malloy raises. The bishop may also invite the council itself to surface matters of pastoral concern. Members represent all areas of the diocese, priests, deacons, laity, religious and young adults.
For more information about the DPC and how you can participate contact Kevin Fuss at [email protected]
