CHARLOTTE — Contributions to the Diocese of Charlotte’s annual charitable effort, the Diocesan Support Appeal, have reached 81 percent of the $6.5 million goal halfway through the yearlong campaign.
Today’s rising costs for food, fuel and other essentials create a greater demand for assistance. Recognizing the need, donors are stepping up to contribute to the DSA – so far giving $5.2 million with six months remaining to reach, or surpass, the goal.
The theme of the 2023 Diocesan Support Appeal, “To Serve is to Love,” implores Catholics to help thousands of people in need across the Charlotte diocese. Inspired by Philippians 2:5-9, people are called to follow Christ’s example of humbly regarding others as more important than themselves and to serve one another with love and compassion.
Bishop Jugis reminds the faithful, “The annual Diocesan Support Appeal is motivated by Jesus’ command to love one another as He loves us. ‘To Serve is to Love’ calls us to help others through charity, kindness, and humility. It calls us to be inspired by the teachings of our Catholic faith.”
The DSA campaign funds more than 50 ministries and programs that serve thousands of people across western North Carolina.
The DSA is a significant funding source for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte for its counseling, food pantries, pregnancy support, refugee resettlement, elder ministry and other programs. Catholic Charities receives 30 percent of the total DSA funds raised in the campaign.
Another 30 percent of funding supports the programs and ministries of the Education Vicariate, such as faith formation, youth and young adult ministries, and Totus Tuus summer camps.
The DSA also supports the Education Vicariate’s Campus Ministry program, which continues to grow and evangelize college students at campuses across the diocese. In a sign of that growth, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish recently expanded its campus center to serve more students at nearby University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
The DSA also provides funding for the diocese’s Family Life office and the annual Eucharistic Congress (7 percent); Hispanic Ministry and African American Affairs Ministry (13 percent); and the diocese’s Vocations programs (12 percent), which include seminarian education and the permanent deacons program.
Campaign administrative costs are projected to be 7 percent.
Parishioners in all 92 parishes and missions help fund the DSA. Through their contributions, they are able to join together to raise the funds to serve more people in need – having a combined impact that no one person or parish can achieve individually.
— Spencer K.M. Brown
Give online to the DSA
At www.charlottediocese.org/dsa: Make a donation securely online to support this year’s DSA. Pledges must be paid by Dec. 31.