United Catholic Appeal: How It Works And Why It Matters

what is the united catholic appeal

The United Catholic Appeal (UCA) is an annual fundraising campaign that brings together all parishes and missions in a shared commitment to strengthen the Church's presence and outreach. Through the generous contributions of its supporters, the UCA provides critical funding for a wide range of diocesan programs and initiatives, such as youth ministries, seminarian education, faith formation, pastoral care, and outreach to those in need. This includes feeding the hungry, supporting retired priests, and building vibrant communities. The UCA embodies the spirit of generosity and unity within the Catholic Church, inspiring the faithful to come together in solidarity to fund these critical programs and make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities.

Characteristics Values
Location Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Mission To unite Catholics throughout the Diocese of Amarillo in supporting the physical and spiritual needs of the community
Impact Provides critical funding for a wide range of diocesan programs, including education and formation of seminarians, support for Catholic schools, diocesan retreats, and grant assistance for small and struggling parishes
Beneficiaries Ministries, services, and programs of the mission diocese, including youth ministries, seminarian education, faith formation, and mission assistance
Financial Goal $6.3 million for the 2022 campaign year
Donor Benefits Donors' generosity directly impacts every parish and mission, helping to strengthen shared ministries and further the mission of the Church
Donation Use 100% of gifts to the United Catholic Appeal go straight to ministry

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The United Catholic Appeal's mission

The United Catholic Appeal (UCA) is a vital annual fundraising campaign that embodies the spirit of generosity and unity within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The UCA's mission is to unite Catholics in supporting the physical and spiritual needs of communities across central and southern Indiana and the Texas Panhandle.

Each gift to the Appeal supports the vital ministries of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, empowering them to form disciples, nurture vocations, serve those in need, and build vibrant communities. This includes feeding the hungry, supporting seminarians, and reaching those on the margins. The UCA also provides critical funding for a wide range of diocesan programs, including education and formation of seminarians and permanent deacons, support for Catholic schools and religious education, diocesan retreats, and grant assistance for small and struggling parishes and missions.

The UCA brings together all parishes and missions in a shared commitment to strengthen the Church's presence and outreach across the region. Each parish is assigned a financial goal calculated based on its average assessable income over the past three years, fostering a spirit of shared responsibility across the Diocese. Through the UCA, Catholics can gratefully share what God has given them and live out the mission of the Church by going forth into their communities and serving others.

The UCA stands as a beacon of hope, inspiring the faithful to come together in solidarity to fund critical programs, educational efforts, and charitable endeavors. By participating in this extraordinary appeal, Catholics can empower their local Catholic community to make a lasting impact, fostering spiritual growth, social outreach, and spreading God’s love throughout their archdiocese.

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How donations are used

The United Catholic Appeal (UCA) is a vital annual fundraising campaign that supports the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Diocese of Amarillo. Donations to the UCA are used to support a variety of ministries, programs, and services that serve the physical and spiritual needs of communities across central and southern Indiana and the Texas Panhandle.

Each parish within the Diocese of Amarillo is assigned a financial goal for the UCA based on its average assessable income over the past three years. This fosters a spirit of shared responsibility across the Diocese. Donations to the UCA are used to support key initiatives such as youth ministries, seminarian education, faith formation, and mission assistance. The UCA also provides critical funding for a wide range of diocesan programs, including education and formation of permanent deacons, support for Catholic schools and religious education, diocesan retreats, and grant assistance for small and struggling parishes and missions.

In the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, 100% of gifts to the UCA go straight to supporting vital ministries. These ministries include feeding the hungry, supporting seminarians, and reaching those on the margins. The UCA embodies the spirit of generosity and unity within the Archdiocese, inspiring the faithful to come together in solidarity to fund critical programs, educational efforts, and charitable endeavors. Through the UCA, the local Catholic community is empowered to make a lasting impact, fostering spiritual growth, social outreach, and spreading God's love throughout the archdiocese.

Annual fundraising reports are required to provide financial information and a review of the apostolic work for which the funds were raised. These reports must include the amount of money collected, the cost of fundraising, and the amount and use of the funds disbursed. Funds beyond operating expenses are turned over to the appropriate office for allocation and investment, ensuring that they are used for their intended purposes. Donors are informed about the use of their donations and assured that any restrictions on the use of the funds are honored.

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The impact of the United Catholic Appeal

The United Catholic Appeal (UCA) is a vital annual fundraising campaign that has a significant impact on the Catholic community. The UCA brings together all parishes and missions in a shared commitment to strengthen the Church's presence and outreach. It invites Christians to participate in its mission of bringing Christ to others through love, service, and unwavering faith.

The UCA has a wide reach, impacting the faith lives of families, individuals, and entire communities. It provides critical funding for a range of diocesan programs, including education and formation of seminarians and permanent deacons, support for Catholic schools and religious education, diocesan retreats, and financial assistance for small and struggling parishes. This ensures that every parish, regardless of size or resources, benefits from the ministries supported by the UCA.

The UCA also fosters spiritual growth and social outreach, inspiring the faithful to come together in solidarity to fund critical programs, educational efforts, and charitable endeavors. It empowers local Catholic communities to make a lasting impact by serving and uplifting one another in faith and fellowship. Through the UCA, Catholics can unite in purpose, grounded in faith, and committed to sharing God's love with the world.

Additionally, the UCA promotes unity and generosity within the Archdiocese. It allows Catholics to gratefully share what God has given them and support key initiatives such as youth ministries, seminarian education, faith formation, and mission assistance. By strengthening these ministries, the UCA helps to build vibrant, faith-filled communities and ensures the continuation of Christ's work.

Overall, the United Catholic Appeal has a profound impact on the Catholic community, enabling spiritual growth, strengthening parishes, and empowering individuals to live out their faith through service and love. Through the collective efforts of parishioners, the UCA makes a lasting difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.

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The annual fundraising campaign

The United Catholics Appeal (UCA) is a vital annual fundraising campaign that brings together all parishes and missions in a shared commitment to strengthen the Church's presence and outreach. Each parish within the Diocese is asked to actively participate and encourage parishioners to contribute financially. These donations support the essential ministries, services, and programs of the mission diocese.

The UCA embodies the spirit of generosity and unity within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. It aims to support and strengthen the vital ministries and initiatives that touch the lives of countless individuals across central and southern Indiana. The UCA provides critical funding for a wide range of diocesan programs, including education and formation of seminarians, support for Catholic schools, diocesan retreats, and financial assistance for small and struggling parishes.

Each gift to the Appeal supports the vital ministries of the Archdiocese, empowering the formation of disciples, nurturing vocations, serving those in need, and building vibrant communities. For example, donations can help feed the hungry, support seminarians, or reach those on the margins. The UCA also fosters spiritual growth, social outreach, and the spread of God's love throughout the archdiocese.

Through the collective effort of the annual United Catholics Appeal, Catholics unite to serve every person in every community, strengthening their shared ministries and furthering the mission of the Church.

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How to donate

The United Catholic Appeal (UCA) is an annual fundraising campaign that unites Catholics in supporting the physical and spiritual needs of communities across central and southern Indiana and the Texas Panhandle. By donating to the UCA, you can help to empower local Catholic communities and make a lasting impact by fostering spiritual growth, social outreach, and spreading God's love.

Online Pledge

You can make a one-time donation or set up pledge installments through your credit card, PayPal, Venmo, or bank account. Your information and donation will be secure and confidential.

Check

Please make your check payable to The Catholic Appeal and mail it to the relevant address:

  • The Archdiocese of Boston, Catholic Appeal PO Box 9134 Canton, MA 02021-9134
  • Office of Stewardship & Development 1400 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46202-2367

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

You can support the Catholic Appeal with the added benefit of tax deductions, flexibility, and control. Please direct your gift to the relevant authority and include Catholic Appeal and your home parish in the donation details.

Bequests

You can designate a gift of cash, securities, real estate, or personal property through your will or trust to the Catholic Community Fund of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc.

Retirement Plans

Name the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston as a beneficiary of an IRA or 401(k) plan.

Matching Gift Programs

Many employers offer Matching Gift Programs, which can double the impact of your donation. Check with your employer to see if they offer this program and what their requirements are.

Stock or Mutual Fund Transfers

You can transfer stock or shares of a mutual fund as a gift. You will receive credit for the full current market value of your stock on the date of transfer. Please consult your tax advisor to confirm your eligibility.

Direct IRA Transfer

A direct transfer from your IRA to the Catholic Appeal can be a tax-wise gift. It will count towards your required annual IRA minimum distribution and be excluded from your gross income.

For more information on how to donate, please contact the relevant office:

  • Office of Stewardship & Development, Archdiocese of Indianapolis: [email protected], (317) 236-1425
  • Arlene Dubrowski, Archdiocese of Boston: (617) 779-3706
  • Office of Development, Diocese of Amarillo: (806) 383-2245, ext. 130

Frequently asked questions

The United Catholic Appeal (UCA) is an annual fundraising campaign that unites Catholics in supporting the physical and spiritual needs of communities.

The UCA aims to support and strengthen ministries and initiatives that serve and uplift individuals and communities. This includes funding critical programs, educational efforts, and charitable endeavours.

The UCA provides critical funding for a wide range of diocesan programs, including education, faith formation, pastoral care, and outreach to those in need. It ensures that every parish and community benefits and that the Church's presence and outreach are strengthened across the region.

Each parish within the Diocese is asked to participate and encourage parishioners to contribute generously. Donations can be made directly to the United Catholic Appeal, with 100% of gifts going straight to ministry.

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