Every year at this time, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal (BAA) is shared through the local parishes in the Diocese and on the Diocesan website. This year’s BAA campaign theme is ‘Open Your Heart | Open a Door!’ and reflects the BAA’s impact on all aspects of our faith in the Diocese of Raleigh and the services it provides. Bishop Zarama says of the Appeal, “The BAA helps me to help the Diocese serve our people. Each parish has its own needs, but we are a family. Through your prayers, by your volunteer service in your parish, and through your resources…you can help this Diocese serve for 100 years more.” He adds, “I am humbled by your generosity and inspired by the hope it signifies. Your prayers and financial gifts aid many in need and enable us to joyfully share the Gospel in Eastern North Carolina.”
In 2024’s successful campaign, 112% of the goal was raised, with over 8 million dollars donated to the appeal from 19,412 donors, and all of these funds remain in the Diocese for local commitments. As the Dioicesan website explains, 34% of the funds support ‘Christian Formation and Education,’ 26% support Catholic Charities, 14% provide ‘Parish Support and Ministry Services,’ 11% drive ‘Catholic Communications,’ 8% for ‘Seminarians and Vocations,’ and 6% for ‘Marriage, Family and Respect Life.’ However, these are just the numbers and categories, remembering that none of these efforts are funded solely by the BAA. With nearly a quarter of a million Catholics living in the diocese, along with 29 diocesan Catholic schools, 13 missions, and 81 parishes, there are a variety of disparate needs in the Diocese of Raleigh that receive some support from the BAA, and each year, these needs grow.
Some may ask, “Don’t parishes already provide monies to the Diocese?” They certainly do through the ‘Cathedraticum,’ the money paid by our Catholic parishes to support the bishop and the Diocese. Dawn Stark, Chief Development Officer for the Diocese of Raleigh, mentions, “The Cathedraticum helps fund Diocesan services provided to all, and those funds are for more administrative things. We have to fund the Catholic Center (the Diocesan Offices), the Bishop’s budget for expenses like travel, everyday things like the utilities, and services provided to all parishes such as human resources, finance, legal advice, the tribunal, etc. The BAA doesn’t fund those expenses.”
As an example of what the BAA does provide, Dawn highlights, “Christian formation and education takes a third of the BAA funds and much of these go to smaller parishes that need assistance, and to the Catholic centers around the diocese that don’t have funds for programming for young adults. This last year, the BAA helped fund the Newman Centers at colleges in the Diocese and some pilot programming at different high schools for ‘youth ministry’ programs. The Bishop wants to connect with our youth and wants students to think beyond the sacrament of Confirmation. It is not just ‘checking the box’ then moving on saying ‘OK, now I’m done.’” Pope Francis’ focus on the youth was evident when he spoke at World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023, saying, “Dear young people, I would like to look each of you in the eyes and tell you: do not be afraid. In the Church, there is room for everyone. ‘Father, but I am a disgraced person; I am a poor person. Is there room for me?’ There is room for everyone.’” Bishop Zarama wants to encourage the focus on our youth and their faith as the future of the Church, and the BAA supports the effort.
Dawn also reminds us that “Catholic charities, the next largest category, provide many services and are funded partially by the BAA, and those commitments keep growing.” Catholic charities served over 63,000 people last year with disaster services, emergency assistance, immigration assistance, services in support of the family, and parish and community engagement assistance. The Diocesan website says, “Catholic Charities envisions a more just society transformed by respecting the dignity of all individuals and collaborating to provide help and create hope for the most vulnerable in our community.” As Catholics, our call is to serve others, and the funds raised by the BAA do just that.
Continuing to grow the Catholic faith in our youth, caring for those facing challenges, evangelization through parish support, support of the clergy, and sharing our Catholic values and mission by supporting marriage and families all drive the promises the BAA addresses. “The mission of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal,” says the Diocesan website, “is to empower the faithful to live out the Gospel by supporting the Church’s efforts to evangelize, serve, and educate. Through your generosity, we proclaim Christ’s message of hope and love, strengthen communities in need, and form the next generation of disciples. By opening our hearts and sharing our blessings, we ensure that the light of faith shines brightly in our parishes, schools, and outreach ministries, transforming lives and bringing the healing presence of Christ to all. By participating in the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, Catholics in the Diocese of Raleigh play a vital role in sustaining the mission of the Church and opening doors of opportunity, hope, and compassion to those in need.”
Please click here to watch Bishop Zarama’s message to the people of the Diocese of Raleigh. As challenges in people’s lives grow, so does our call to assist them, to support our faith, and to spread the message of Jesus Christ’s love to all, as we have always done at St. Francis of Assisi. Your support of the BAA helps the Diocese meet all those responsibilities in Eastern North Carolina.
