ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL

Agencies, Ministries, Programs funded through your generosity to the Annual Catholic Appeal

Questions and Answers

Q. Why is there such urgency regarding the Appeal?
A. When people are in need of assistance there is always urgency. Especially when the need has to do with housing, heating oil, food – to address these needs as soon as possible can be the difference between life and death. We, as the Church need to be responsive to people’s needs and respond to them as soon as we possibly can - not according to our convenience but when a child is hungry or an elderly person is cold.

Q. Who are the auditors?
A. The audit firm is Wolf and Company, P.C.

Q. What is the purpose of publishing the Accountability Report?
A . To show donors, the Catholic community, and the general public how these funds are allocated to the agencies, ministries, programs of the Church of Western Massachusetts. The accountability report is available on our website.

Q. Will you accept other forms of gifts besides a check?
A. You may pledge and be billed monthly; you may give a gift of stock or even have your gift debited from your checking account. Again, on the pledge card make your wishes known to us. And, please don’t forget that we also accept credit cards.

Q. Can I give on-line?
A. Absolutely. Just go to our web site, www.diospringfield.org and click on the “Annual Catholic Appeal” then “make a gift”. It is convenient, easy and secure.

Q. Who is contacted for donations?
A. Every registered Catholic in the Diocese of Springfield is contacted for support of the ACA.

Q. How do you get those names?
A. Our pastors and administrators supply the Diocesan Office of Institutional Advancement with the names of its parishioners on a regular basis.

Q. Sometimes I get contacted by companies and I have wondered if you are giving them my name. Is my name used for any other purpose?
A. Absolutely not! And, we can not say this enough! The database which is kept in the Diocesan Office for Institutional Advancement is not shared, sold or communicated in any way with any other entity including other diocesan departments. This was the “contract” that we had with our pastors and administrators and this is the promise that we have kept over the years and will keep in the future.

Q. Does my parish benefit in any way from the Appeal?
A. Absolutely. It is the wish of Bishop McDonnell that our parishes receive 50% of any gift that has been received over the parish’s goal. This money can be used for any purpose within the parish community and at the discretion of the pastor/administrator.

Q. I have a neighbor who is a member of something called “the Bishop’s Society of the Annual Catholic Appeal”. What is that and how could I become a member?
A. The BISHOP’S SOCIETY OF THE ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL is a recognition society of those donors who have given $1000 and more to the Appeal in a given year. It is a great way for donors to come together at the end of the Appeal and celebrate with Bishop McDonnell the good news of this annual fund drive. Our members gather for Mass and dinner with Bishop in December at the Cathedral and the Bishop Marshall Center. Our membership in this Society is 500 strong.

Q. If I have any questions or need help as I fill out the pledge card who can I call?
A. The staff of the Diocesan Office for Institutional Advancement is available to you from 9 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The number is 413-452-0670.