Photo Caption: The poster for the 2013 Annual Diocesan Appeal, the major source of revenue for the ministries and agencies of the Diocese of Peoria.

“Living Our Faith” will be the theme when the 2013 Annual Diocesan Appeal is conducted in parishes across the Diocese of Peoria the weekend of April 20-21.

The appeal is the major source of revenue for the ministries and agencies of the diocese. This year’s goal is $5,768,000. In addition, parishes are assigned individual goals and share in the success of the campaign by having funds collected beyond their goal returned for their own needs and projects.

“Our Annual Diocesan Appeal represents how our church serves the Lord, especially how we take care of our neighbor, how we help the young and the old, how we build up the Body of Christ in this diocese,” said Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, at the close of an eight-minute video that will be played at all Masses in the diocese on appeal weekend.

“Much goes on in our local church in service of the Lord and neighbor,” continued Bishop Jenky. Through a series of interviews, the video offers glimpses into several efforts funded by the Annual Diocesan Appeal — including the work of Catholic Charities, campus ministry, Catholic schools, seminarian formation, prison ministry and more.

“Your gift to the ADA just might be a way you are called to participate in the building up of the Kingdom of God,” said Msgr. Brian Brownsey, director of the Office of Priestly Vocations. In the video, Msgr. Brownsey points out that the diocese is blessed with 35 seminarians who are “going to offer their lives so that others will find that joy of becoming whoever it is that God made them to be.”

The appeal supports their formation, he said, and allows Catholics across the diocese to participate in the vocations program and the diocese’s other important ministries.

IN-PEW METHOD
The Annual Diocesan Appeal is planned and coordinated by the diocesan Office of Development and Stewardship, and is overseen by a 20-person advisory board that includes a dozen priests.

For the third year, the appeal will utilize “in-pew solicitation.” Following the showing of the video during Masses on April 20-21, the priest will give a short promotional talk and then talk the assembly through the process of filling out pledge cards.

“It has proven to be the easiest, quickest way for parishioners to make their gift, and has resulted in a significant increase in the number of parishes able to meet their ADA goal,” said William Engelbrecht, diocesan director of advancement. He noted more parishes went beyond their goal in 2012 than ever before.

Asking blessings on all who serve God in the Diocese of Peoria and upon all its ministries and apostolates, Bishop Jenky concludes the video by saying “Faith means trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and doing what he asks.”

“Everything we do should be for Jesus Christ, for the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit,” said the bishop.