Annual fund raising campaign nearing $2 million
DRAPER — With the total of paid pledges for the 2007 Diocesan Development Drive (DDD) at $1.93 million Drive director Shannon Lee announced Oct. 16, the drive is just $18,000 short of its $2 million goal. At a dinner at St. John the Baptist Elementary School Lee told pastors, parish drive directors, and diocesan personnel pledges totaled $2, 127, 531 for the drive, the theme of which was "Light the Way." "We had no way of knowing how appropriate that theme would become," Lee said. "The appointment of Bishop John C. Wester as bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City and his arrival here signaled a new beginning." The DDD is an annual drive that provides financing for the bishop’s programs, including Catholic Community Services, the building of new churches and parish facilities, diocesan offices and ministries, and tuition for the nine men currently studying for the priesthood for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Lee cited the 2007 ordinations of two priests for the diocese as an example of how some DDD funds are used. She also noted the beginning of construction on a new church for St. Mary Parish, Ogden, a finished expansion project at Mission Santa Ana in Tremonton, the groundbreakings for St. Andrew Church and School in Riverton and a new church in Holy Family Parish, Ogden. "The future of the Catholic Church in Utah will be brighter because of the success of the 2007 drive," Lee said. "We also have upgraded many of our systems to better serve our donors and updated our web site so donors can make DDD payments via the web. "One of our goals is to be good stewards of the funds entrusted to us by the Catholic people of Utah, and weekly and monthly reports on the drive are now available on line on our secured web site." Noting especially the increased use of the Internet by DDD donors, Lee said the 2007 drive brought 1,237 debit/credit card transactions into the offices, and $73,612 in automatic bank withdrawals. "In addition, 15,000 checks were written for a total of $1,577,145. But it’s very important that donors be encouraged to pay the remainder of their pledges before the end of the year," Lee said. "It isn’t the size of a gift, it’s the gift itself." Lee reported that 15 out of the diocese’s 61 parishes have reached 50 percent involvement of registered parishioners, compared with 30 percent involvement in parishes diocese-wide. "We still have 22,262 families to reach. If every one of those families donated just $1, our goal would be met." Lee said she is grateful for every pledge, every donation. "You each hold a special place in our hearts for your commitment to the Diocese of Salt Lake City and your commitment to good stewardship. "As you have heard from Shannon Lee, there is excitement about the faith In Utah. Last month, at a Hispanic retreat in St. George, more than 1,000 people gathered there to pray and learn more about their faith. A parish that had a handful of Catholics in the 1960s and a part-time priest, now has 1,800 families and two priests. While there, I visited nearby Hurricane, where people have opened a thrift store to raise funds for a future church. "Tomorrow Msgr. Fitzgerald and I will travel to Cedar City to meet with area clergy and religious regarding the growing missions of the area and the need to begin the mission process in Beaver. Some 35 Catholic people sent us a petition asking that we help them form a mission." Bishop Wester also spoke of the celebration of the silver anniversary of the Kateri Tekakwitha Center in Duchesne County, the groundbreaking for a new church for Holy Family Parish, Ogden, the beginning of an expansion San Isidro Mission in Elberta in Utah County, and the expected arrival of 135 refugees from Iraq and 275 from other war torn countries through Catholic Community Services. "The list of endeavors could go on and on," the bishop said. "What I mentioned reflects the enthusiasm of our Catholic people in every area of the state. Across the country, other dioceses are faced with closing parishes and schools. We are not closing institutions, but expanding. My experience here in seven short months has been one of growth, and our hearts and our embraces are expanding to meet the challenges." Bishop Wester said every parish and mission brings ministry to the people of a given area, and each parish and mission requires priests to serve and qualified staff to prepare catechists and liturgists. Every new mission requires funds and land to help the local people get started. That is why we are here tonight, to celebrate DDD, Utah’s Catholic outreach for the future. Your excitement and your commitment will make our drives even more successful." The event also served as a platform to kick off the 2008 development drive, with its theme taken from Bishop Wester’s Episcopal motto, "Abide In Christ." The 2008 drive theme will be, "Abide In Christ: Our Journey Together." It’s poster features an Intermountain Catholic photo taken of Bishop Wester entering the Cathedral of the Madeleine on the day of his installation as the ninth bishop of Salt Lake City. The DDD office presented each person attending the dinner a parchment explaining Bishop Wester’s Coat of Arms and how it relates to the diocesan crest. Each person also received a copy of the 2008 DDD poster. "All you have heard about future needs requires a journey that we take together," said Bishop Wester. "The journey requires strength that come only from our life in Christ. He is the vine; we are the branches. We cannot bear fruit on our own, but only when we are one with Christ and remain in him. We do not bear fruit alone, but only with the support of one another. Your enthusiasm is contagious – you have made me hopeful and enthusiastic for our journey together." Bishop Wester used the axiom, "Charity begins at home," to emphasize the importance of supporting the 2008 Diocesan Development Drive, encouraging all Catholics to join the enthusiasm for the new drive. "I also want to thank all of you, pastors, drive directors, and diocesan staff, for all you do; for all you’ve done for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Thank you all."
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