2019 Diocesan Development Drive appeal kicks off

Courtesy graphic/Office of Stewardship and Development

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SALT LAKE CITY — The 2019 Diocesan Development Drive is under way, with the theme “Growing and Changing: Becoming a Clearer Reflection of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Utah.”

The theme is derived from Bishop Oscar A. Solis’ commentary on the diocesan Pastoral Plan, which was released in September. The five-year plan lists five priorities: faith formation, vocations, stewardship, the Eucharist and Catholic identity, and the dignity of the human person. All of these are intended to help Catholics in Utah respond to Christ’s call to evangelization and discipleship, Bishop Solis said.

The Diocesan Development Drive is an annual appeal that began 52 years ago. It provides operating funds for diocesan ministries.

“These ministries provide religious education, formation for future priests and deacons, support for rural missions, assistance for the most vulnerable, enhancement of youth and Hispanic ministries, and support for my vision of a ‘New Evangelization,’” Bishop Solis wrote in his message for this year’s DDD.

That the DDD helps support smaller parishes was a factor in what Jason Caywood calls his “conversion of the heart” that changed the way he donates to the Church. After moving with his family back to Utah seven years ago, he heard a pulpit appeal at St. Vincent de Paul Parish for the DDD; the speaker mentioned that some of the funds go to support smaller parishes. After speaking with his pastor, Caywood decided to contribute to the DDD, not just his parish.

This year, Caywood is serving his first year as St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s DDD representative, and one of his goals is to help other people understand all of what DDD does and why it’s important, he said.

The diocesan ministries supported by the DDD are beyond the capacity for any one parish to do, said Karin Hurley, director of the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development. This “affords the work of the mission of Christ to continue in a much greater sense,” she added.

Although it’s financially necessary that each of the diocese’s 68 parishes and missions contribute their share to perform the work of the Church in Utah, the focus of this year’s DDD is “about understanding what it takes to change the world, and that’s what we’re doing,” Hurley said. “If people truly want to change the world – like Mahatma Gandhi said, it starts with each and every person; be the change you want to see in the world – it’s realizing that my portion and my share, too, is making a sacrificial gift to my parish and also making one to the bishop’s appeal.”

To help with this, Hurley’s office will offer a workshop Feb. 9 for parish representatives, pastors, parish staff, finance managers and other involved in the DDD. While information about the “nuts and bolts of the appeal” will be presented, the focus will be on how to engage parishioners in the pew and the spirituality involved with being a spokesperson for Christ, Hurley said.

The DDD office is also preparing a new online giving platform to make electronic donations easier. It will be available next week.

WHAT: DDD Focus on the Future Workshop 

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 9, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 

WHERE: St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s Benvegnu Center, 1375 E. Spring Lane, SLC

Sponsored by the Diocesan Development Drive, this workshop will guide pastors, finance managers and DDD parish representatives through the appeal year. RSVP at 801-328-8641 ext. 399. For information, email karin.hurley@dioslc.org.