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4 Catholic Ministries Appeal 2020 Share His Good Gifts With All
�am very excited to announce that 6,272 donors pledged $2,026,921 to the 2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal! We had 43parishes exceed their goals, and those additional funds raised have gone back to the parishes for their designated projects. Materials for the 2020 Catholic Ministries Appeal will be mailed to homes this month. The goal for the Appeal remains at $2.1 million. It will officially launch the weekend of February 15/16.
The theme for the CMA this year is Share His Good Gifts With All. As Catholics, we are blessed to be strengthened and united by Christ in the Eucharist and sent forth to bring the peace and joy of our Triune God to all those we encounter. As individual members of the Body of Christ, we Catholic Foundation all possess different gifts and talents for furthering the ministry of Christ and His Church.
We hope that the compelling testimonies we share throughout 2020 will instill confidence that our Church and its ministries continue to grow in Christ’s love.
Our Church needs you, each and every one of you, to continue to grow ever closer to Christ and become who you are destined to be – witnesses to the truth in love. So many of you have seen the good that has come from the many important ministries supported by the Catholic Ministries Appeal. These ministries reach God’s people of all ages and circumstances, and they depend on your sharing of the gifts He has given.
Several questions arise each year with the Catholic Ministries Appeal, and below are frequently asked questions and answers that I hope you will find helpful.
Monica Herman Executive Director Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota mherman@catholicfsmn.org
1. Why do we need the CMA-funded ministries?
The Catholic Church serves the needs of thousands of people across southern Minnesota. To date, we have more than 34,000 households.
While some of our services are offered at the parish level, it is often more effective when many join together in ministry and service of the people of southern Minnesota. Each diocesan ministry exists to support and further the work of our local parishes.
Thank You! At the conclusion of the 2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal, the following parishes had met their goals:
All Saints New Richland Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka Winona Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Winona Christ the King Byron Co-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Rochester Good Shepherd Jackson Holy Family Kasson Holy Family Lake Crystal Holy Redeemer Eyota Holy Spirit Rochester Immaculate Conception St. Clair Pax Christi Rochester Queen of Angels Austin Resurrection Rochester Sacred Heart Adams Sacred Heart Heron Lake Sacred Heart Waseca Ss. Peter & Paul Blue Earth Ss. Peter & Paul Mazeppa St. Agnes Kellogg St. Ann Janesville St. Ann Slayton St. Anthony Westbrook St. Casimir Winona
St. Columba Iona St. Columban Preston St. Finbarr Grand Meadow St. Francis of Assisi Rochester St. Ignatius Spring Valley St. Joachim Plainview St. John Baptist de la Salle Dodge Center St. Joseph Lakefield St. Joseph Waldorf St. Leo Pipestone St. Luke Sherburn St. Mary Chatfield
St. Mary Lake Wilson St. Patrick Brownsville St. Patrick LeRoy St. Patrick West Albany St. Peter Hokah St. Pius X Rochester St. Rose of Lima Lewiston
No. Appeal money has never been used for victim settlements or legal costs related to clergy sex abuse cases. Gifts to the 2020 Appeal will be used only for the benefit of designated ministries and programs identified. An independent board of directors stewards all funds and ensures they are distributed appropriately.
3. What can you tell me about the security of donations made to the CMA?
As noted on the Catholic Ministries Appeal pledge card, “All gifts will be used solely for the restricted purposes of the 2020 Catholic Ministries Appeal. The Appeal supports specific ministries and programs of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. More information regarding the CMA is located on the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota website, www. catholicfsmn.org.”
The Catholic Ministries Appeal is one of the major efforts of the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota in fulfilling its mission to financially support spiritual, educational and social needs of the Catholic community across southern Minnesota.
The Foundation is an independent Minnesota nonprofit corporation that is tax exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). An independent board of directors stewards all funds and ensures they are distributed appropriately.
5. How are parish goals determined?
The formula to calculate parish goals is based on two factors: church support and registered active parishioners. The formula takes into consideration the ability of the parish to raise money based on the number of registered families and the actual amount of money the parish generates from church support.
Gifts, bequests and special fundraising are not included in the calculation. However, 50% of gambling revenues are included as church support. Church support from the most recently completed fiscal year is calculated for each parish. If a parish financially subsidizes a Catholic school, then the amount of church support is reduced by 50% of the amount of subsidy paid to the school in the most recently completed fiscal year. The net amount of church support for a parish is then divided by the total church support for all parishes in the diocese. The result of this calculation is the church-support percentage.
The second factor is the number of registered active parishioners in the parish. This number is taken from the parish census report. The number of registered families in a given parish is divided by the total registered families in the diocese. The result of this calculation is the registered-families percentage.
The two percentages are then averaged, the average of the two factors is the percentage of the Appeal goal that the parish is targeted to achieve. 6. What happens if our parish exceeds our goal?
Again this year, 100% of every dollar exceeding the goal will be returned to the parish. Many parishes have identified a parish project that they want the "over goal" funds to support.
We are very grateful for your faithful and generous heart. As you prayerfully consider your financial gift to the 2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal, be assured that it will be used solely for ministries such as Catholic Schools; Vocations; Lay Formation; Life, Marriage and Family; and Evangelization. As always, please let me know what questions and concerns you have. I can be reached at mherman@catholicfsmn.org, or call me at (507) 858-1276. The Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota (EIN:41-11691198) is an independent Minnesota non-profit corporation that is tax exempt under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Contributions are used only for the benefit of designated purposes identified in the statement of purpose and for no other purposes. To learn more about the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota, visit www.catholicfsmn.org. February 2020 w The Courier w dowr.org
