26th Annual Bishop's Lenten Appeal Begins

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/14/02)

Participation in the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal is a way to make Lent more meaningful — supporting parish-based religious instruction, Catholic schools, youth ministry, Catholic Charities, the Spanish Apostolate, education of seminarians and many other programs in the diocese.

The 26th annual Bishop’s Lenten Appeal (BLA) begins with mailings to parishioners throughout the diocese shortly after Ash Wednesday. The theme of this year’s appeal is "A Sacrifice in Thanksgiving." All pastors have been asked to speak about the BLA at Mass on the second Sunday of Lent, Feb. 24.

"Coupling your spiritual and financial sacrifices into an expression of gratitude to God strengthens the diocese by providing spiritual and material support for the mission of our local Church," Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde said.

In considering making a pledge of their hard-earned money, members of the diocese should know BLA funds support the chaplain program at INOVA Fairfax Hospital; campus ministries at George Mason University, Marymount University and Mary Washington College; the televised Sunday Mass for homebound Catholics on WHUT (channel 32); as well as Project Rachel, a post-abortion healing ministry.

At a time when families in our diocese may be facing unemployment or recovering from the loss of a loved one, it is good to know that BLA has raised its contribution to Catholic Charities for the coming year to nearly $500,000, an increase of more than $350,000 from three years ago. These funds will help support Christ House, a homeless shelter in Alexandria; adoption, crisis pregnancy and infant care services; social justice ministry; emergency financial assistance to families and individuals; family counseling services; and Hogar Hispano Immigration Services, which help immigrants become self-sufficient.

Some people may ask how the diocese supports individual parish operations. In reality, the "diocese" is all of its more than 350,000 Catholics in 67 parishes and 37 Catholic schools and the Chancery [diocesan offices].

Bishop Loverde and the Chancery serve parishes through numerous diocesan offices with financial, administrative and pastoral services. Financial services include administering D.I.A.L., the parish savings and loan; the Employee Benefits Office, which manages benefits for 2,000 employees in parishes, schools and diocesan offices; and the Stewardship and Development Office, which assists parishes with capital funding initiatives and coordinates the BLA.

Administrative services are provided by the diocesan Construction Management Office, which assists parishes in construction of church buildings and schools or renovation projects. The Publications & List Maintenance Office coordinates parish publications and manages parish databases. Information on parishes, schools and the diocese is maintained by the diocesan Archives Office. The Risk Management Office, which regularly visits parishes for preventive risk assessments, coordinates parish property and casualty insurance. The BLA has also makes land acquisition possible, resulting in the establishment of seven new parishes in the past six years.

Among the many diocesan pastoral services supported by the BLA are Office of Family Life programs such as marriage preparation and "Theology on Tap" lectures for young adults; the Tribunal (Church court); Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) programs; insurance benefits for retired priests; religious education; Catholic schools; college campus ministry; hospital ministry; priestly formation; the Spanish Apostolate; and guidelines for liturgical worship.

"The Bishop’s Lenten Appeal challenges people to consider sacrifices in Lent," said Bob Mueller, diocesan director of stewardship and development. Members of the diocese are asked to give "prayerful consideration" to making their BLA pledge. This year’s goal is $5.5 million with 30 percent participation in each parish.

Included in the materials sent to all members of the diocese is a list of gift plans and the actual daily cost of each gift. Whatever amount is pledged, the beneficiaries will be schoolchildren, young adults, seminarians and families trying to make ends meet, among many others.

For additional information, contact the Office of Stewardship and Development at 703/841-2570.

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