Help Us Reach Our $4 Million Goal
The Annual Diocesan Appeal continues to provide resources for Catholic Charities outreach within the diocese and to support the faith of all parishioners through our many diocesan ministries.
MAKE A GIFTAmy and Todd found out they were expecting their first child just days after the pandemic began.
What should have been a joyful time was met with several challenges. Both Amy and Todd worked at a local restaurant that was shuttered during the pandemic, and eventually did not reopen. There were also some medical challenges to their pregnancy, but the readily available doctor appointments of the past were severely limited due to Covid. After months of worry and concern, they welcomed a healthy baby girl, Gia, into their lives. While the medical concerns were alleviated, the financial ones continued.
Thanks to Catholic Charities, this beautiful family was able to receive the necessary support of formula, diapers, and groceries, along with rent and utility assistance until Todd found a job. Gia is talking and walking – in fact, everyone in the house is back on their feet, and grateful for the help and hope Catholic Charities was able to offer them.
Your support of the Annual Diocesan Appeal makes this story, and so many more like it, possible. Please prayerfully consider making your gift to the 2023 Annual Diocesan Appeal today.
Dear Friends in Christ,
When I was named your bishop a little over two years ago, part of the preparation for my ordination was to select an episcopal motto. After much prayer and reflection, I chose words spoken by Jesus the night before he died, when he prayed “That all may be one.” Jesus’ prayer is one of unity, expressing a deep desire that all may come together, embraced by God’s grace and love. As people of faith, it is up to us to bring about this sense of unity and oneness—and we are often reminded that the Church is less about a place, and more about the people of God.
A primary way we can work together toward unity in our diocese is to support the Annual Diocesan Appeal. With the theme, “One in Hope, One in Mission,” the Appeal provides an opportunity for us to engage in the Church’s essential work of service and ministry. Sixty percent of all monies raised through the Appeal support Catholic Charities, which offers direct assistance and social services to those among us who are poor, vulnerable and without hope. Forty percent of the monies raised advance the mission of the Church through vocations and seminary formation, faith formation programs, Catholic schools, communications, and our archives, as well as other ministries and diocesan services.
I thank you for your support of the Appeal in past years. I ask that you prayerfully consider making a similar gift to last year or, if possible a slight increase. The needs are great, and it is our responsibility to care for the poor and to further the mission of the Church in our world.
May God bless you for all that you do to promote unity in our Church and for responding to our shared call, “That all may be one.”
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend David J. Bonnar
Bishop of Youngstown
Your Gift at Work
60% Catholic Charities efforts in ministering to 35,000 individuals and families through:
- Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County
- Catholic Charities Regional Agency (serving Columbiana, Mahoning, Trumbull counties)
- Catholic Charities Serving Portage and Stark Counties
- Hispanic Ministry
- Prison Ministry
- Catholic Charities Diocesan Offices
40% Diocesan Ministries, enriching the faith lives of 60,000 families throughout the diocese through:
- Communications and Social Media
- Missionary Discipleship
- Vocations and Seminary Formation
- Diocesan Archives
- Office of Catholic Schools
- Faith Formation & Lay Ecclesial Ministry
- Lay Ministry Formation
- Pro-Life, Marriage, and Family Ministry
- Youth and Young Adult Ministry
- And more!
Queridos Hermanos y Hermanas en Cristo,
Cuando fui ordenado su obispo hace poco más de dos años, parte de la preparación para mi ordenación fue seleccionar un lema episcopal. Luego de mucha oración y reflexión, escogí las palabras dichas por Jesús la noche antes de que muriera, cuando él oró “Que todos sean uno.” La oración de Jesús es una de unidad expresando un deseo profundo de que todos se unieran abrazados por la gracias y el amor de Dios. Como gente de fe, depende de nosotros lograr este sentido de unidad y unicidad, y a menudo se nos recuerda que la iglesia se trata menos sobre un lugar y más del pueblo de Dios.
Una forma principal en la que podemos trabajar juntos hacia la unidad en nuestra diócesis es apoyar la Campaña Diocesana Anual. Con el tema, “Uno en la Esperanza, Uno en la Misión,” la Campaña nos brinda la oportunidad de participar en el trabajo esencial de servicio y ministerio de la Iglesia. El sesenta por ciento de todo el dinero recaudado a través de la apelación apoya a Caridades Católicas, la cual ofreces asistencia directa y servicios sociales a aquellos entre nosotros que son pobres, vulnerables y sin esperanza. El cuarenta por ciento del dinero recaudado promueve la misión de la iglesia a través de vocaciones y formación de seminarios, programas de formación en la fe, escuelas católicas, comunicaciones y nuestros archivos, así como otros ministerios y servicios diocesanos.
Les agradezco por su apoyo a la Apelación en los pasados años. Les pido que consideren en oración hacer una donación de $250 o cualquier cantidad que pueda ofrecer. Las necesidades son grandes, y es nuestra responsabilidad cuidar de los pobres y promover la misión de la iglesia en nuestro mundo.
Que Dios los bendiga por todo lo que hacen para promover la unidad en nuestra Iglesia y por responder a nuestra llamada compartida, “Que todos sean uno.”
Sinceramente en Cristo,
Reverendísimo David J. Bonnar
Obispo de Youngstown
Su Donación Trabajando
60% Caridades Católicas
35,000 personas y familias reciben apoyo a través de:
- Caridades Católicas de la Diócesis de Ashtabula
- Agencia Regional de Caridades Católicas
(sirviendo a los condados de Columbiana, Mahoning, y Trumbull) - Caridades Católicas sirviendo a los condados de Portage y Stark
- Ministerio Hispano
- Ministerio de Prisiones
- Oficinas Diocesanas de Caridades Católicas
40% Ministerio Diocesano
60,000 hogares reciben enriquecimiento espiritual de las parroquias atendidas por:
- Comunicaciones y Redes Sociales
- Discipulado misionero
- Vocaciones y Formación del Seminario
- Archivos diocesanos
- Oficina de las Escuelas Católicas
- Formación de Fe y Ministerio Laico Eclesiástico
- Formación del Ministerio Laico
- Ministerio Pro-Vida, del Matrimonio y Familia
- Ministerio de Jóvenes y Adultos Jóvenes
- Y más!
How to Make a Gift
Online
Click the MAKE A GIFT button.
By mail or at Mass
Download the Commitment Card and mail or return in your parish’s offertory collection using the envelope provided.
Stock donations
Contact the Office of Development & Stewardship at 330-744-8451, x298.
IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution
Donors age 70 ½ and older may qualify to make a charitable gift directly from an IRA to the Annual Diocesan Appeal. Consult with your tax advisor to find out if this option is right for you, then contact the Office of Development & Stewardship at 330-744-8451, x298.
Giving Circles
Show your commitment to the hope and mission of Jesus Christ through membership in a giving circle:
Mission Makers Circle
$25,000+
Circle of Hope
$10,000–$24,999
Circle of Discipleship
$5,000–$9,999
Circle of Charity
$2,500–$4,999
Circle of Compassion
$1,000–$2,499
Sustainers Circle
Sustainers commit to ongoing automatic weekly, monthly, or quarterly gifts online.
One in Hope, One in Mission
Your gift to the Annual Diocesan Appeal supports these causes and more:
FOR FAMILIES
Maryssa and her husband recently moved to Portage County with their five children. When Maryssa became pregnant with their sixth, she turned to Catholic Charities for essentials, including diapers, wipes, and food. Catholic Charities even assisted the family with Christmas gifts for the children during their time of need
FOR THOSE WHO SERVE
Roberta Muoio is a pastoral associate at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Canton, and her formation through various Diocesan ministries has helped her in her own ministry to parish families. She has attended numerous retreats, in-services, speakers, and webinars, and thanks to these diocesan ministries, she has been able to provide parishioners the opportunity to journey towards a deeper and more enriching faith.
FOR THOSE IN NEED
Tony started raising his son on his own after his wife’s sudden death. When a freak accident left Tony with temporary blindness, he was unable to care for his son and eventually lost his job. A Catholic Charities caseworker in Trumbull County provided Tony with food assistance, helped him file for unemployment benefits, and worked out a plan with his landlord to keep Tony and his son in their home. When Tony’s sight was restored through a series of medical treatments, he returned to Catholic Charities to tell his caseworker, “Only one person cared enough to find a way to help me, and that was you.”
FOR GROWTH IN FAITH
Margie Hynes is a religious education consultant with the diocesan Office of Faith Formation & Lay Ecclesial Ministry. One of her main duties is overseeing the expansive library collection at the diocesan central offices in Youngstown. “It is a privilege to provide Catholic resources for anyone to learn more about their faith and support ministries in their parishes,” said Margie.
FOR A LIGHT IN DARKNESS
After being physically assaulted by her husband, Terri gathered her two children and drove to a local church. The pastor gave Terri the phone number for Christina House, a Catholic Charities domestic violence shelter in Columbiana County. The program provided Terri with a safe shelter, counseling, safety planning and a legal advocate.
Parish Toolkit and Updates
The Office of the Annual Appeal has provided a Pledge Card image and Pledge Box for bulletin announcements, reporting the progress of the parish and diocese.
For Playing Videos at Parishes:
Annual Diocesan Appeal Video (English) – mp4 File
Annual Diocesan Appeal Video (Spanish) – mp4 File
Note: To download the videos to your computer, please click on the file and then click “download” (or the download button, which is the downward arrow, normally located in the upper right hand corner)
Downloading the files directly to your computer is recommended, and avoids potential issues with the internet. However, you can also play the files directly from YouTube:
