CHARLESTON – After a May 3-4 special appeal for the Bishop’s Stewardship Appeal, some individuals who had already given might wonder why they received another request in the mail.
“We decided that it would be more cost-effective to mail to our constituency again this year to provide the opportunity for those who have yet to give a chance to support the appeal,” said Michael Gocsik, secretary of Stewardship and Mission Advancement. “We also want to provide an opportunity for those who have already given but would like to do more.”
The special weekend promotion was held because funding levels of the appeal are down. The BSA supports many ministries and organizations throughout the Diocese of Charleston including Catholic Charities, Catholic education and right-to-life organizations. The appeal begins each year in February and concludes Dec. 31.
“Traditionally, we mail to parishioners three times a year,” Gocsik said. “This year we will only be mailing twice (outside of gift acknowledgements and tax statements).”
“I would like to express the heartfelt gratitude on behalf of Bishop Baker and my office to the pastors and parishioners of the diocese who participated in the special BSA weekend,” Gocsik said. “Your continued support is greatly appreciated.”
In 2002, $1,760,144 was granted to the following ministries and organizations.
Campus Ministry, $65,000
Youth Ministry, $45,000
Family Life Office, $3,000
Priest Continuing Education, $26,000
Permanent Diaconate, $35,000
Priest Assistance, $60,000
Christian Formation, $50,000
Tribunal, $50,000
Ethnic Ministries, $60,000
Stewardship Office, $30,000
Priests Personnel, $15,720
Vocations, $90,000
Priest Post Graduate Studies, $50,000
Seminarians, $161,000
Catholic Charities, $312,000
Parish Life Facilitators/General Assistance, $200,000
St. James and St. Anthony, Walterboro, $10,000
S.C. Citizens for Life, $10,000
Charleston Catholic School, $20,000
Birthright of Charleston, $8,000
St. John Catholic School, $30,000
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, $69,999
St. William, Ward, $5,000
Home Works, $10,000
St. Francis Xavier High School, $3,000
Family Honor, $15,000
Healthy Learners, $15,000
St. Martin de Porres School, $20,000
Cardinal Newman School, $4,000
St. Ann Outreach, Kingstree, $30,000
Church of St. James, Conway, $7,000
Franciscan Center, St. Helena Island, $34,999
Howard Adult Literacy Center, $4,000
St. Cyprian Outreach, $19,999
Birthright of Greenville/Clemson, $11,280
St. Joseph’s High School, Greenville, $7,500
St. Anthony of Padua School, Greenville, $30,000
St. Mary of the Angels, Anderson, $15,000
St. Jude Enrichment Center, $19,999
Dominican Sisters, Ridgeville, $19,999
Our Lady of Peace, North Augusta, $17,500
BSA Parish Goal Sharing Endowments, $68,990
Contingency Fund, $1,159
If you would like to do more for the BSA, please send checks payable to the Diocese of Charleston, P.O. Box 300, Charleston, SC 29402.