Catholic Charities Appeal nears goal of $4.5 million

By SHANNON ROH
For The Catholic Week
MOBILE – The 90th annual Catholic Charities Appeal Sunday was Jan. 24. As of  Tuesday, Feb. 23, a total of 5,974 generous donors have participated with a financial pledge that helped us achieve 89.2 percent of our $4.5 million goal. This is 1,300 donors and 9.3 percent of goal less than this time last year. However, given the number of parishioners who have not yet returned to Mass, this is understandable. Achieving our goal through an in-pew appeal is challenging when every other pew is roped off and only half our parish is able to safely attend Mass. The generosity of our archdiocese is unfailing. With your generosity, we will reach our goal and continue to fund the amazing ministries supported by Catholic Charities. 
The past year has been challenging to say the least. However, Catholic Charities is no stranger to hard times as it began during the Great Depression. The needs today are just as critical as they were in 1931 when Catholic Charities began. The basic pledge is $50 a month for 12 months or $600 a year. Many give more, much more. No gift is too small or too large. I am asking each of you to prayerfully consider making a pledge. If you are unable to give the basic pledge, please give what you can afford. I ask you to be generous and invite each of you who have not given before to please answer God’s call to share what you have and be charitable to the poor, the weak and those suffering among us. I ask that you look into your heart and support the 2021 Catholic Charities Appeal. Text CCA to 91999 for a link to make your gift online.  
Inspired by Hebrews 13:16, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind,” the 2021 Catholic Charities Appeal theme is in all things Charity. The ministries supported by the Catholic Charities Appeal serve the needs of the poor, the weak and those suffering mentally, physically and spiritually throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile. The services offered by these ministries are only possible with our generosity to the Catholic Charities Appeal. 

Dedicated volunteers 
The Catholic Charities Appeal would not be possible without the amazing team of dedicated volunteers. The challenges that our faithful volunteers conquered due to the pandemic are remarkable. 
The Parish Chairs sacrifice countless hours to sort pledge envelopes and follow up with those who have not yet made a pledge. Thank you Parish Chairs for your dedication to Catholic Charities! 
Finally, we are also blessed with a handful of exceptional volunteers who dedicate weeks of their time here in our office sorting, counting, recounting and preparing deposits so that our donations can be entered and processed getting to the ministries that need them as quickly as possible. These faithful volunteers show up day after day with their masks on until every pledge is deposited, entered and alphabetized. The Development office is made up of only three: Laura Ball, Michelle Knizley and myself. We could not do this alone.