CHARLOTTE — As Advent quickly approaches, so does a day of great generosity. Save some money after shopping Black Friday and Cyber Monday to give back to Catholic-related charitable efforts on Tuesday, Nov. 30.
The Tuesday after Thanksgiving has become known as “Giving Tuesday.” Catholics can focus their charitable giving on this day in numerous ways.
Campaigns such as #iGiveCatholic, originally launched in 2015 as a 24-hour fundraiser to benefit the Catholic Community Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, have grown into a broader social media movement that resonates with people who want combat the commercialization and consumerism that has attempted to overtake the true meaning of Christmas.
There are several local Catholic-related charitable efforts you can consider giving to this season, including Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. Thanks to your support, Catholic Charities helped almost 18,000 participants of all ages across the 46 counties in the diocese last year through more than a dozen services and programs to strengthen families, build communities and reduce poverty - including food pantries, mental health counseling and veteran services. Find ways to help and donate to Catholic Charities at www.ccdoc.org/donate.
Another option to consider is St. Joseph College Seminary, which hopes to focus its Giving Tuesday efforts on funding a special piece of artwork for its future permanent chapel. Father Matthew Kauth, rector of the college seminary, has been working with Chiara Perinetti Casoni, an Italian artist from Siena, Italy, on creating a large multi-paneled screen, called a reredos, to adorn the Blessed Sacrament. The artwork will feature original images depicting the life of St. Joseph, an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, and depictions of other saints. On Giving Tuesday, the college seminary hopes to raise $30,000 through its #iGiveCatholic campaign for this project. To donate, visit www.stjcs.org/donation and select “Special Projects.”
Another option is the Airport Chaplaincy at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. While the chaplaincy is non-denominational in its mission to serve airport travelers and employees, deacons of the diocese are closely involved in its work. The ministry has organized nearly 300 Masses and prayer services, ministered to 1,375 visitors and prayed hundreds of prayer requests from employees and travelers this year. Chaplains volunteered more than 2,600 hours ministering to people who travel and work at the airport, one of the nation’s busiest, and their work has been especially critical in response to the economic impacts caused by the pandemic. Consider donating to this ministry by going online to www.cltairportchapel.org.
Other options to “give Catholic” on Giving Tuesday include:
- Catholic Campus Ministry
- Catholic Schools
- Catholic Conference Center improvements
- Charlotte Catholic High School’s capital campaign
- Christ the King High School’s capital campaign
- Diocesan Support Appeal (DSA)
- Eucharistic Congress
- Priests’ Retirement & Benefits Collection
- Seminarian Education
- Donate a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift to your parish
Find links to donate at www.charlottediocese.org/development/ways-to-give
— Kimberly Bender, online reporter