(See chart below for detailed statistics)
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
Roughly one-third of households in the Diocese of Davenport, about 11,000 households total, made a pledge to the Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA) this year.
“We are seeing an increase in the number of donations, which is only the second time this has happened in the past seven years,” said diocesan Development Director Andy Gaertner.
The average gift was $318, which is up $15 from last year.
The ADA covers approximately 71 percent of the diocese’s annual budget. ADA funds are used to support ministries, programs and services of the diocese such as lay ministry; seminarian, deacon and priest education; youth ministry; religious education and Catholic schools; tribunal processes; various diocesan offices and assistance to parish bookkeepers. Volunteers are utilized to help the dollars stretch farther.
Each of the diocese’s 78 parishes receives an ADA goal based on its parish income. This goal is satisfied with pledges and payments from parishioners; however if a parish does not meet its goal, it is required to pay the diocese the difference.
The ADA goal for this year was $3,136,000. Catholics in the diocese have donated 10 percent more than that, so parishes exceeding their individual assessed contribution goals will have the surplus funds returned.
Gaertner said that, at press time, $407,000 is set to be rebated to parishes that have reached their goal — a new record. An increase in outreach and communications benefited the ADA collection, he said. “Historically, the diocese has only been mailing ADA letters to those who have given in the past. This year, if a parish is substantially short of goal, in many cases we have mailed to the remainder of their parish member households and sent a couple of follow-up letters as well.”
The Development Office helped parishes by offering weekly updates on their progress with the appeal.
Gaertner said he appreciates the efforts individual parishes have made in their ADA efforts. He noted that St. Thomas More-Coralville and St. John Vianney-Bettendorf significantly increased their ADA donations this year due in part to parish promotional efforts and additional mailings.
The diocese still needs $73,000 on behalf of the 17 parishes which have not yet met their assessed ADA goal. Gaertner said it is not too late to make a pledge on behalf of these parishes.
He is thankful to everyone who has opened their pocketbooks to help the ADA, and notes that the Diocese of Davenport endeavors to use the resources wisely. “Without individuals’ support of the appeal, we could not operate the diocese at even a basic level.”
Help parishes reach ADA goal
On-line giving: Credit or debit card payment can be made on the Diocese of Davenport’s secure website at www.davenportdiocese.
org. Please call Nancy Karn at (563) 888-4367 for assistance.
By Mail: Mail Annual Diocesan Appeal gift or pledge to the Development Office — Diocese of Davenport,780 West Central Park Ave., Davenport IA, 52804-1901
Stock Transfers: Please call Andy Gaertner at (563) 888-4252
Please include the name of the parish you would like to receive credit for your gift.
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