By SHANNON ROH For The Catholic Week MOBILE — Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi and the Executive Director of Development and Stewardship for the Archdiocese of Mobile, Mrs. Shannon D. Roh, have announced that the 2021 Catholic Charities Appeal goal is $4.5 million. The basic pledge is $600 per year, which is $50 per month for 12 months. The 2021 Catholic Charities Appeal theme is "In all things Charity." 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 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. For 90 years now, many have been charitable to those in need throughout central and southern Alabama through their generosity to the annual Catholic Charities Appeal. The appeal supports more than 30 ministries across the Archdiocese of Mobile. These ministries feed the hungry, clothe the naked, assist the elderly and those with disabilities, help a family adopt a child, provide life sustaining medication for those who cannot afford it, strengthen the faith of our youth, minister to the imprisoned, love the abandoned and even give hope to the unborn. Alabama is the fifth-poorest state in the nation according to alabamapossible.org. The need is great and your generosity is a blessing to tens of thousands of individuals in mental, physical and spiritual need.
The appeal kicked off Jan. 6 in an untraditional fashion with a Zoom meeting for all pastors and parish chairs. A letter from Archbishop Rodi attached to a brochure and pledge card was mailed to every Catholic household in the Archdiocese of Mobile on Jan. 11.
Please update your information on the pledge card, add your pledge intention and return this pledge envelope to your parish by Jan. 24, Catholic Charities Appeal Sunday.
It is our goal to have all pledges returned by Appeal Sunday. To make your donation online, text CCA to 91999 or visit mobarch.org, click on the Catholic Charities Banner on the main page to give online.
To salute the 90th anniversary of Catholic Charities, we are blessed to have someone who previously led the appeal serve as the archdiocesan chair for this year's Catholic Charities Appeal — Rev. Msgr. William J. Skoneki, V.G., rector of the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile. Msgr. Skoneki was ordained in 1987 and served as the director of the Catholic Charities Appeal from 1993 to 1997. After ministering at parishes in Montgomery, Daphne, Mobile and Fairhope, he served as pastor of St. Dominic Parish, Mobile, from 1996-2005 and St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Auburn, from 2005-2019. Since July 2019, Fr. Bill has been Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia of the Archdiocese of Mobile and Rector of the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile.
Joining Fr. Bill in leading the 2021 Catholic Charities Appeal are Deanery Chairs Mr. and Mrs. Don Rhodes of the Baldwin/Escambia Deanery; Mr. Robert Amuso of the Dothan Deanery; Mrs. Jo Dunaway of the Mobile Deanery; and Mr. and Mrs. Cary Kuhlmann of the Montgomery Deanery.