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CSA
Goal for appeal, which funds most ministries,
is $17.84 million
by Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published May 1, 2009 
DETROIT - The goal for the 2009 Catholic Services Appeal is $17,839,175 to fund most of the ministries of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
The figure represents a 1.5-percent increase over last year's goal of $17,575,542, the same percentage increase as in the past several years.
Most parishes and missions of the archdiocese will kick off their general appeal for pledges to meet their parish target at Masses this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3.
Some parishes have already launched their general appeal to parishioners; most have been soliciting pledges from their largest donors for some weeks now.
"As I immerse myself into the life of the Archdiocese of Detroit, I am amazed at the wealth of ministries and programs we are able to offer our community of faith," Archbishop Allen Vigneron said in his letter in support of the 2009 CSA.
"Even more awe-inspiring is the fact that these essential services are funded through the annual Catholic Services Appeal, and therefore by the continued generosity of the good people of our archdiocese," he continued.
Noting that the theme for this year's CSA is "One Sows, Another Reaps," Archbishop Vigneron added, "The generous sharing of both our faith and material resources through the CSA allows many in southeast Michigan to reap the benefits of archdiocesan programming each year."
He asked the faithful to "prayerfully consider the most generous gift possible to support the many ministries and services funded by the CSA."
All parishes and missions are required to meet their individual targets, but many strive to exceed their target, because every dollar collected in excess of it comes back to the parish. From the 2008 CSA just ending, $8 million is going back to parishes that exceeded their targets, said Thomas Scholler, interim director of development for the archdiocese.
Exceeding their CSA target is actually the preferred fund-raising method for many parishes, because it is the only way a parish can receive contributions that are not subject to the 6-percent archdiocesan assessment - the cathedraticum - that applies to all other contributions to a parish.
"For those parishes that take full advantage of the CSA, it's a wonderful thing," Scholler added.
The cathedraticum primarily covers the basic administrative expenses of the archdiocese, whereas the CSA funds most ministries - such as the archdiocesan departments of Education and Parish Life and Services, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, the Metropolitan Tribunal, the CTND Catholic cable TV channel and The Michigan Catholic.
It is through CSA dollars that the archdiocese supports college and hospital chaplaincies, criminal justice ministry, youth ministry, parish nursing, formation and financial aid for seminarians, and continuing education for various lay ministers.
But it is a mistake to think of the CSA as only funding ministries that are archdiocese-wide and above the parish level, Scholler continued, because many of these ministries support what goes on in parishes.
With CSA dollars supporting programs for the certification and continuing education of catechists, for example, parishes benefit from better-trained, more knowledgeable instructors in their religious education and adult faith formation programs.
And he pointed to the Vocation Office, which makes presentations on vocations awareness in parishes.
Scholler acknowledged that residents of southeastern Michigan are enduring tough economic times, but added, "Perhaps we need to turn the focus back on to God more than ever, to focus on how all that we have is a gift from God."
He expressed confidence that the 2009 CSA goal would be met: "We continue to be confident people will understand how important these ministries are to many thousands of people."
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