By Sr. Laura Goedken, OP
For The Catholic Messenger
The Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA) started in the fall and 11,247 or 33 percent of our total households in the diocese have made a pledge to the ADA.
Each year the diocese prepares its fiscal year budget of which the ADA covers approximately 75 percent. ADA funds are used to support ministries, programs and services of the diocese such as lay ministry; seminarian, deacon and priest education; youth ministry; religious educations and Catholic schools; marriage tribunal; diocesan offices and assistance to parish bookkeepers.
Using the total of $3,043,590 as the ADA goal, each parish is given its own goal based on its parish income. This goal is satisfied with pledges and payments from parishioners; however when a parish does not meet goal, the parish is required to pay the diocese the difference.
When a parish exceeds goal, the difference is returned to the parish as pledges are paid. The accompanying chart shows in boldface the parishes that have exceeded their pledge goal. This year 54 of our 79 parishes are presently over goal. Last year $296,443 was returned to parishes.
Additionally, nine parishes have reached more than 90 percent of their goal. If you have not yet made your pledge to the ADA, it is not too late. You can do so today. Most parishes have envelopes available or you can call the diocesan office at (563) 888-4252 and an envelope will be sent to you. You can also go to our website (www.davenportdiocese.org) and enter your pledge electronically. Last year 9.75 percent of our total dollars came in electronically via automatic withdrawal from a checking account, savings account or credit card.
This year three parishioner donations were matched by their business. Seven individuals donated stock; five donated grain and four gave from their IRA. In addition, 20 donors paid their pledge from their donor-advised fund. Contact our office for information on setting up a donor-advised fund.
Included in this data are the number of households in each parish and the percentage of households in the parish that participate. This percentage ranges from a high of 63 percent to a low of 13 percent. We need to increase the number of donors every year to the ADA. We are an aging diocese and some of our long-established parishioners die and new and younger members need to come forward.
For more information on the ADA or making any kind of donation, contact Sister Laura Goedken, OP, at (563) 888-4252 or Goedken@ davenportdiocese.org.
