By Barb Arland-Fye
Pledges totaling $21,806,739 bring the Diocese of Davenport’s Moving Forward in Faith and Hope capital campaign within reach of the $22 million goal.
“We are very hopeful that we will make our goal,” said Sister Laura Goedken, OP, the diocese’s development director. “Pledges are still coming in. We are thrilled to be this far. We have so many generous parishioners. People deeply love our Church and want us to move forward in faith and hope. I am deeply grateful.”
More than 9,500 donors have contributed to the capital campaign, which began last year with five pilot parishes and is the first in more than 20 years for the diocese. The campaign’s overarching goals are to strengthen the Church of the Diocese of Davenport, assist parishes, support clergy and seminarians and reach out to the people of the diocese. Twenty percent of funds received up to a parish’s target goal and 50 percent of any overage will be returned to the parish.
While parishes have wrapped up their campaigns, pledges are still being accepted in the hope of achieving the goal soon.
“I am extremely happy that we have almost achieved our goal of $22 million and new pledges continue to come in each day,” said Msgr. John Hyland, the diocese’s vicar general. “I am very thankful for the priests of the diocese not only for their gift of $1 million, but also their leadership in their parishes. I am thankful for all of our parish leaders and for all of the parishioners who have been so generous with their contributions.”
He said the diocese was fortunate to have been served by Community Counseling Services in conducting the capital campaign. The long hours spent each day and the professionalism contributed to the campaign’s success. And he said the diocese is indebted to the leadership of Sr. Goedken.
“What was thought impossible by some is now becoming a dream come true as we continue to move forward in faith and hope,” Msgr. Hyland said.
During a meeting with the principals of diocesan schools Monday, Aug. 9, at St. Patrick Parish in Iowa City, Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Lee Morrison noted the capital campaign’s wide-reaching impact on the diocese. “The diocese is everybody — it’s the Catholics of southeast Iowa.”
If you would like to contribute to the campaign, call Sr. Goedken at (563) 324-1911, or e-mail her at goedken@davenportdiocese.org or write to her at The Diocese of Davenport, 780 W. Central Park Ave, Davenport, Iowa, 52804-1901.
