Investing in Our Parishes
If the Church exists to evangelize, the parish is the chief venue where that activity must take place. Our parishes must be true centers of evangelization.” -Cardinal Seán O'Malley
Cardinal Seán reminds us that the core mission of the Catholic Church is evangelization –what Christ asked us to do – and that our parishes live at the heart of that mission. In this increasingly God-marginalized world, where religious worship is declining, and secularism and skepticism are increasing, the need for vibrant parish evangelization is more important than ever.
To do this requires parishes be effectively staffed, financially sound, and operating with robust, vibrant ministries. The 282 parishes of the Archdiocese are reorganizing into formal collaborative archetypes so that they can be better equipped to celebrate the sacraments, provide religious formation for children and adults, respond to the pastoral needs of the sick and infirm, and assist those in need of material assistance – all through the lens of evangelization.
To do this requires parishes be effectively staffed, financially sound, and operating with robust, vibrant ministries. The 282 parishes of the Archdiocese are reorganizing into formal collaborative archetypes so that they can be better equipped to celebrate the sacraments, provide religious formation for children and adults, respond to the pastoral needs of the sick and infirm, and assist those in need of material assistance – all through the lens of evangelization.
|
14,500
First Communions
annually |
117,000
Youth learning the faith
|
80,000+
Visits by hospital chaplains in 2018
|
1,800
Requests for pregnancy help in 2018
|
Additionally, Cardinal Seán has always been a strong advocate for the freedom to practice our beliefs in the public square. His voice resounds in defense of human dignity and he is a shining example of what it means to take up Christ’s cross in protection of the weak and unprotected on issues impacting the moral fiber of our society.
Toward implementing and expanding all of these important evangelization efforts, he has created several key initiatives in his Inspiring Hope campaign.
Toward implementing and expanding all of these important evangelization efforts, he has created several key initiatives in his Inspiring Hope campaign.
Parish Evangelization Fund: $5.0M
Program, Endowment and Capital
This Fund will be the first of its kind in our Archdiocese, providing multi-year grants to parishes for successful programs that can be replicated in other parishes in areas such as:
- Innovative parish-based outreach programs to grow and strengthen our faith community.
- Parish capital needs to support the goals of evangelization, and the needs to keep the parish a safe and welcoming place.
Central Ministries Evangelization Fund: $12.0M
Endowment
This fund will support central ministries in their work serving parishes' evangelization efforts, including:
- Supporting priests and deacons
- Strengthening parish operations, faith formation, child protection, outreach and cultural diversity
- Developing digital communication websites for all parish evangelization efforts
Healing Ministries and Human Dignity Fund: $5.0M
Program
This fund will support central ministries in their work providing healing outreach and promoting human dignity at all stages of life including:
Healing Ministries
Healing Ministries
- Support for the expansion of on-call hospital chaplains
- Training for parish nurses, bereavement ministers and prison chaplains
- Education and advocacy in palliative care and advance care planning, pregnancy help and respect life education
Parish Opt-In Campaigns: $60.0M
Programs, Capital, Endowment
Within this Inspiring Hope capital campaign, parishes have an opportunity to raise funds for their parish’s specific needs. This is a voluntary initiative and unique to most Archdiocesan-wide capital campaigns. Most funds raised through parish campaigns stay with the parish, with a smaller percentage supporting initiatives from the larger Archdiocesan Inspiring Hope campaign selected by the parish.
