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Next weekend is the beginning of our Annual Catholic Appeal campaign for 2021 and we will have the opportunity to complete pledge cards. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Love Your Neighbor.” Parishioners who have made a pledge to the ACA in the past three years recently received a letter, pamphlet, and pledge card from Archbishop John Wester regarding the importance of the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA). Unlike the tithing renewal that we normally do in November in which we commit ourselves to a weekly tithe to the support of our local parish, the Annual Catholic Appeal is our opportunity to consider the needs not just of our own parish, but of Catholics across the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Who will provide for the education of new priests for their parishes? Who will provide for the priests that visit them in the hospital? Who will provide for the training of deacons and lay ministers within our Archdiocese? Who will provide for prison ministry, Youth and Young Adult ministry, Respect Life ministry, and ministry to our Catholic university students at the Newman Centers of the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands University, Eastern New Mexico University, and New Mexico Tech? The pamphlet that you received in the mail or will receive at Mass next weekend lists some of the many ministries of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe that are funded by the Annual Catholic Appeal. Each of us are being asked to step up and make a pledge to the Annual Catholic Appeal that provides funding for all of these critical ministries.
The Annual Catholic Appeal Foundation represents nearly one third of all operating funds available to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Without the ACA, the vital work of the Church would not be possible. Our assigned goal for this year is $42,500 which is $3,500 less than last year. In meeting our goal, we are meeting our obligation to support the ministries of the Archdiocese. But in surpassing our goal, we are also helping ourselves since all of the paid pledges in excess of our assigned goal are rebated directly back to our parish! In recent years, our parish has been successful in exceeding our ACA goal, but it all depends on you. Every pledge is important, regardless of the amount, and every pledge must be paid in order for us to meet our goal.
In the 2020 ACA Campaign, our goal was $46,000, and our parishioners made 162 pledges that totaled $57,259. The amount paid was $59,390 which actually exceeded our pledged amount! Because we exceeded our goal, the parish received a rebate of $13,390. The average pledge in our parish last year was $352.90, but all pledges, regardless of the amount, are helpful in achieving or surpassing our goal. Please prayerfully consider your pledge to ACA and join me in completing a pledge card next weekend if you have not already done so.
Please remember that the Annual Catholic Appeal Foundation is not part of the Chapter 11 reorganization that was filed by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in December, 2018. The ACA is separately incorporated and funding from your pledge is not used for legal claims or expenses. The ACA remains a significant source of funding for ministries, programs, and services of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Please prayerfully consider your pledge to ACA and join me in completing a pledge card next weekend if you have not already done so.
