2018 Diocesan Services Appeal
“Go and Announce the Gospel of the Lord” is the theme of our 2018 Diocesan Services Appeal. It reminds us that each of us is called to discipleship. Supporting the DSA is one way to share our blessings and the Good News with the world.
The programs, ministries and services funded by our contributions offer not only direct assistance to individuals and families, but also to parishes, and schools, and Catholic Charities agencies as they carry out their missions to bring the love of Christ to the world.
Our parish goal of $80,814 can be reached if each of us shares a portion of the bountiful gifts God has bestowed upon us.
2018 DSA Prayer
Loving and gracious God, we praise you and we thank you for the bountiful gifts that you have bestowed upon us.
Instill in us the courage to “Go and Announce the Gospel of the Lord.”
Help us to understand that we are called to discipleship, to grow actively in faith and to go and share the good news with the world.
Please bless our unified efforts and help us to bring Christ’s love to all we encounter.
Give us the grace to be generous in our support of the Diocesan Services Appeal, so that we may faithfully participate as missionary disciples in the work of Your Holy Church.
Amen.
What is the purpose of the Diocesan Services Appeal (DSA)?
The DSA is an annual appeal, meaning gifts are used to sustain the ongoing, day-to-day work of the Church in our Diocese. The programs and services funded by the DSA offer direct assistance to individuals and families and to our parishes and schools.
We just gave to the Witness to Hope Campaign. Why is it important to contribute to DSA?
Thank you for contributing to our first-ever diocese-wide capital campaign, Witness to Hope. It was a momentous effort to invest in the future of our Church. Approximately 50% of the funds raised will be returned to parishes for their selected projects. In addition, six endowments have been established at The Catholic Foundation to support vital designated purposes of the wider Church long into the future. However, contributions to DSA are used for a different purpose.
What is the difference in the use of DSA gifts and Witness to Hope gifts?
Consider this analogy. An individual invests in the future by buying or building a home. He or she then needs to provide for the operation and maintenance of that home. Witness to Hope gifts are a long term investment in the future of the church. DSA gifts support ongoing efforts at our parishes, schools, and across the diocese. Both types of gifts are necessary and responsible uses of the financial gifts with which God has graced us as the stewards of His Holy Catholic Church.
Why has the DSA returned so soon?
The DSA appeal was last conducted during the Lenten season in 2016, over 2 years ago, and funded important operations and ministries through the 2016-2017 fiscal year. A small share of Witness to Hope contributions were designated to sustain these operations and ministries for one year only, fiscal year 2017-2018. All other Witness to Hope contributions have other designated purposes and cannot be used to fund the ongoing costs of these operations and ministries. This DSA is necessary to support this mission through the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
All gifts, of any size, will help your parish reach its goal and will provide valuable support for ministries that benefit your parish and the mission of the Catholic Church throughout the diocese.