Faithful encouraged to pledge support
CHARLOTTE — The ongoing global pandemic has created an even greater cry for assistance, and we as Catholics are charged to come to the aid of people in need across the Diocese of Charlotte through the annual Diocesan Support Appeal.
To date, the 2021 DSA has received $5.4 million – about 88 percent of its $6.2 million goal – with a few months remaining in this year’s campaign to raise the remaining $800,000.
“Love Thy Neighbor,” the theme of the 2021 Diocesan Support Appeal, is taken from Matthew 22:39: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” It illustrates one way we can strive to share God’s love with others at this difficult time.
“This is a heartfelt reminder and an opportunity to put our faith into action to help others,” Bishop Peter Jugis wrote in his DSA appeal letter to the people of the diocese.
The DSA campaign funds more than 50 ministries and programs that serve thousands of people across the diocese. Most notably, the DSA is a significant funding source for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte for its counseling, food pantries, pregnancy support, refugee resettlement, elder ministry, Respect Life and other programs, as well as the programs and ministries of the Education Vicariate.
The DSA also supports multicultural ministries, seminarian education, the permanent diaconate, the annual Eucharistic Congress and the diocese’s housing corporation.
Catholic Charities receives 33 percent of the funds collected in the campaign. Other DSA funds are allocated to the Education Vicariate (27 percent), vocations (14 percent), multicultural ministries (14 percent), and the Eucharistic Congress and the diocesan housing ministry (7 percent). Campaign administrative costs are projected to be 5 percent.
Parishioners in all 92 parishes and missions help fund the annual DSA. Through their contributions, people across the diocese are able to join together to do the Lord’s work – works of love and service that no one person or parish can do alone.
Last year, parishioners raised $6.4 million, $230,391 over the campaign’s goal of $6.2 million.
Bishop Jugis asks parishioners to prayerfully consider making a financial contribution to the 2021 DSA, sharing our blessings from God with others “especially during these trying times of a global pandemic when the needs of many are great. I appeal to you to reflect on your own blessings and return a portion of these gifts to make a difference in our diocese.”
How to support the DSA
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ONLINE: Go to www.charlottediocese.org/dsa to make a secure online donation.
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TEXT: Text “DSA” to 704-389-2096
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ENVELOPE: Mail the pledge card you received in the mail or at Mass to: Diocese of Charlotte, 2021 Diocesan Support Appeal, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203. (Pledges must be paid by Dec. 31, 2021.)
Questions?
Contact Jennifer Daigle at 704-370-3316 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..