Pastors and lay leaders from pilot parishes in the Diocese of Sacramento's capital campaign are spelling success "A-S-K" in reaching and in some cases surpassing their fund-raising goals.

They reported on their successes during a Nov. 6 meeting at St. Anthony Parish in Sacramento with pastors and lay leaders from 34 additional parishes that are preparing to start their own campaigns in January.

The diocesan campaign, entitled "Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future," seeks to raise at least $50 million for Catholic education and formation, parish support, restoration of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, priests' retirement and retirement housing, and Catholic social ministries.

"Our success lies in simply asking and asking for the right amount," said Msgr. James Kidder, pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in El Dorado Hills. Holy Trinity is one of 10 pilot parishes that kicked off the initial phase of the capital campaign in September and are concluding their campaigns at the end of this month.

Holy Trinity has raised $3 million of its goal of $4 million in pledged gifts from 208 households in the parish of 1,895 families. The average gift is more than $14,000 and the parish has received eight “extremely sacrificial” gifts—seven of $100,000 and one of $500,000—Msgr. Kidder said. Of the $4 million, $931,000 will go to the diocese and the rest will help to build a new parish life center, including a K-8 school, at Holy Trinity.

Msgr. Kidder noted that parish families have pledged more in this campaign than in two previous campaigns in the 1990s. "The single most important difference is in the asking," he said. "The principle, whether you are asking for $5,000 or $500,000 is the same—that we have a goal and mission from our baptism to make Christ’s kingdom a reality. This is the spiritual principle guiding the campaign and showing throughout our diocese with success."

Leaders from two pilot parishes that have already surpassed their fund-raising goals said parishioners are responding because they believe in the campaign and in the diocesan and parish needs that have been identified.

At Holy Family Parish in Portola, parishioners have exceeded the parish goal of $161,000 by pledging more than $281,000 (175% of goal). The average gift amount among 147 households pledging is more than $1,900.

Nearly half of all parishioners have pledged, said Father Glenn Dare, pastor of Holy Trinity. He said he began the campaign as a skeptic that even $161,000 could be raised.

"We are an area of primarily retired and fixed income people, and last year a nearby lumber mill that closed put 40 to 50 families out of work," he said. "But I have found our people to be extremely generous and excited about certain parts of the campaign, especially taking an interest in restoring the cathedral and helping with priests' retirement needs…It's gratifying to see people willing to give to the church in a time of need for our whole country."

Bill Hallerman, chairman of the campaign at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Carmichael, said lay leaders who are presenting the "why" of the campaign to fellow parishioners are the reason for the parish’s fund-raising success. By raising more than $1.45 million in pledges from 327 households, the parish has already surpassed its goal of $1,082,000.

Hallerman said nearly eight out of 10 families who have been invited to participate in the campaign have said yes. As a result, parish leaders have decided to set a new goal of raising $1.7 million by the end of November.

Fund-raising reports provided to the staff of Community Counseling Services, the fund-raising consulting firm that is running the diocesan campaign, show that parishioners from the 10 pilot parishes have pledged a total of more than $6.79 million so far. Totals from the other seven pilot parishes are:

• St. John the Evangelist Parish, Carmichael: 18% of goal of $2.5 million with $446,000 pledged from 43 gifts. The parish has 1,725 households.

• St. Ignatius Parish, Sacramento: 59% of goal of $931,000 with $547,000 pledged from 94 gifts. The parish has 1,760 households.

• St. John the Baptist Parish, Chico: 67% of goal of $644,000 with $430,000 pledged from 130 gifts. The parish has 1,650 households.

• Presentation Parish, Sacramento: 79% of goal of $539,500 with $426,400 pledged from 95 gifts. The parish has 910 households.

• Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacramento: 94% of goal of $500,000 with $469,660 pledged from 81 gifts. The parish has 2,165 households.

• St. Joseph Parish, Rio Vista: 47% of goal of $173,500 with $82,160 pledged from 32 gifts. The parish has 415 households.

• Immaculate Conception Parish, Corning: 89% of goal of $114,950 with $101,790 pledged from 28 gifts. The parish has 210 households.

Peter Hoskow of Community Counseling Services explained that all of the pilot parishes are nearing the final phases of the campaign. "Parish participation in the campaign is predicated on momentum and enthusiasm," he said. "After great initial successes, now the parishes have enlisted more volunteers to expand the message to the overall population of parishioners."

Hoskow said the four "hallmarks" of the "parish phase" plan that will be carried out by all of the parishes are personal visits from parish leaders to fellow parishioners; proportionate giving based on stewardship (those who have more should be asked for larger gifts); a phase-by-phase approach seeking "pace-setting gifts first to lead the way"; and pledge-type giving over a three to five-year period.

A second group of 34 parishes (called Block 1) will begin their campaigns in January and conclude at the end of March or early April. The remaining 54 parishes in the diocese will conduct their campaigns April through June 2002.

Of the Block 1 parishes, 21 will conduct campaigns based on a “fair share” formula, in which they get back 25 percent of all funds raised in the parish up to its target goal, and 50 percent of all funds thereafter. Thirteen parishes will run major capital (called "combined") campaigns in which they will raise funds for their "fair share" portion of the diocesan goal and retain 100 percent of monies raised above that for their own capital needs.

Chad Bortle of CCS, the campaign's executive director, said the consulting firm would have about 15 people on staff beginning in January to assist with the campaign.

Bishop William K. Weigand closed the meeting by telling pastors and lay leaders that the "Preserving the Past, Building the Future" campaign is about more than raising money. It's also about helping meet the spiritual, ministerial and structural needs of the diocese’s growing population today and in the future.

"Our parishes, schools and ministries offer services to our Catholic people, the poor and the broader community," he said. "Since Sept. 11, it's clear that people are more focused on the basics of life, want to give, and are in some cases reconnecting with God and deepening their faith. We need to continue to be a force for good, as this diocese has for nearly 150 years."

Copyright © 2001 Diocese of Sacramento - All Rights Reserved

[Catholic Herald - Cover Page]