Campaign passes ‘significant milestone’

As of May 1, the diocese’s Our Faith-Our Hope campaign had received more than $38 million in pledges and cash.

“I think we’ve passed a significant milestone and we’re within reach of hitting our goal” of $50 million, says Peter Misiaszek, the diocese’s director of Stewardship Development.

By the end of June, $3,345,000 will have flowed back to the parishes for local initiatives, with another $1.6 million to be returned by the end of December. Parishes are using the money in a variety of ways, from paying off building repairs to funding outreach projects.

“They’re ecstatic about the amount of money that’s coming back,” says Mr. Misiaszek, adding that some cheques have been for more than $100,000. “They’re dreaming about how it’s going to be used in the parish.”

Forty per cent of the funds raised by a parish, up to its goal, will be returned to the parish. In addition, each parish that exceeds its campaign goal will receive 75 per cent of the funds raised above its goal. When a parish finishes its campaign, it will receive its first cheque six months later, and then cheques every three months thereafter.

If the campaign raises $50 million, parishes will receive a total of $17million. They will also be eligible to apply for grants from the remaining funds.

Mr. Misiaszek says it’s important that all campaign pledges be fulfilled. To accomplish that, he encourages parishes to take the following steps:

• Faithfully apply the funds received from the campaign to the items identified by the parish.
• Let people in the congregation know when money has been received from the campaign, and how much the amount is.
• Let people in the congregation know that their gift is making a difference.

Parishes will be able to apply for grants beginning in 2013. Grants will be made in the following areas, for support: leadership development, pioneering ministry, communicating in a wireless world, adaptive reuse of parish facilities, enabling parishes to become multi- staffed and giving to others.

The diocese is setting up an Our Faith-Our Hope Allocations Committee to establish guidelines, receive applications and make recommendations for grants. Diocesan Council will have the final approval of grant. The allocations committee will be made up of eight clergy and lay members from across the diocese.

Mr. Misiaszek says one of the reasons for the success of the campaign is the generosity of major donors. At the beginning of the campaign, Archbishop Colin Johnson had set a target of $10millionin major gifts. As of May 1, he had raised $6.3 million, with more expected to come in over the spring and summer.