Each year, dioceses throughout the United States, including our own Diocese of Rockford, traditionally ask for the help, support and stewardship of the faithful for the coming fiscal year. Here locally, this collection is called the annual Diocesan Appeal.
Like most any organization, the earthly structure of the Church needs resources to carry on its on-going and year-to-year components of the mission of Jesus entrusted to His followers in every age. This is our mission, based in the great commission given to the Church by our Lord, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt. 28: 19-20).
We are now at the moment of the kick-off of the 2026-2027 Diocesan Appeal with the coming commitment weekend in each parish. Our theme this year is “I will come to you.” It comes from the Gospel of John, where Jesus assures us that after all of our efforts, prayers and faith, He will come back to take us to Himself (Jn 14: 1-12).
Because the Diocesan Appeal is intended to be a way for the faithful to not only support but actually join in the work of the Church’s mission, it becomes a part of stewardship. Stewardship is, in the deepest sense, our offering ourselves as an act of faith to the life of the Church.
For that reason, I ask all the faithful of the Diocese to first make the commitment to include the annual appeal in your prayers. Please pray especially for the purity and strength of the efforts of the Diocese to assist those in need. Pray also for the efforts in this particular moment in history for our work to reach out to those who are seeking a sense of faith and purpose by coming to and entering the Catholic Church. Those numbers, as they are elsewhere, are rising in our Diocese, and we need to have ready an appropriate catechesis to form their souls and a desire to welcome and integrate these returning or new members in the Church.
Along with those prayers, I ask that each member of the faithful prayerfully consider, within their means, offering a financial contribution to the work of the Church that is supported by the Diocesan Appeal. Such offerings as a part of faith find a reflection in the Gospels themselves, such as the Gospel of Luke, which records that women disciples assisted Jesus from their means (Lk 8: 2-3).
It is encouraging that each contribution assists the work of both diocesan offices and the parishes. Sixty-two percent of the funds raised are used to proclaim the Gospel and pass on the faith. Examples would include funding the staff and programs of the Catholic Education Office, the Adult Faith Formation Office, the Divine Worship Office, the Bishop Lane Retreat Center and diocesan administrative resources and services for parishes.
Twenty-three percent of the funds enable our work for the poor and vulnerable. That would include the LiFE Office, Catholic Charities and the work of the St. Elizabeth Catholic Community Center.
A further 15% of the funds are used for the formation and support of our seminarians, deacons and priests. Such wonderful and necessary efforts as the work of the Vicar for Clergy Office, the Permanent Diaconate Program, Seminary Education and the Vocations Office and Priest Health Care and Pensions are made possible.
Christ does indeed come to us through the work of the Church. His mission is entrusted to us. I thank everyone for the generosity which helped us to reach and exceed our goal last year. May God bless the generosity and work associated with the Diocesan Appeal for the coming year. Thank you!
