Annual Catholic Appeal funds ministries, services that make a difference throughout the archdiocese
As the Annual Catholic Appeal begins in parishes across the archdiocese, Catholics are called to consider how they can be messengers of hope in supporting the ministries and services that make a difference for thousands of lives throughout the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
This year’s theme is “Messengers of Hope” inspired by Psalm 9:19: “For the needy will never be forgotten, nor will the hope of the afflicted ever fade.”
The goal of the 2025 campaign is $16 million, and it will be conducted in parishes the weekends of April 26-27, May 3-4 and May 10-11. Approximately 91 cents of every dollar raised goes back to the community in direct services.
Appeal funds go toward safe, stable and affordable housing; support for active and retired priests; adult faith formation and evangelization efforts; Catholic education assisting children with a sense of purpose and value; parish food pantries serving people who are hungry; housing, medical and dental care for uninsured low-income residents in rural areas; programs that teach respect for human life; vocations programs to help youth and young adults discern a vocation to the priesthood or religious life; support for youth ministry; and more.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski said that the “Annual Catholic Appeal is one of the most impactful ways for us to be messengers of hope in our community. I pray that you will join us as we seek to make Christ present throughout the Archdiocese of St. Louis and lead others to Him through life-giving ministries and programs.”
The theme, especially meaningful in this Jubilee Year of Hope, is reflective of exactly who we are as Catholics, ACA chairwoman Loretta Charleston said. “We send messages of hope each and every year when we make a donation to the Annual Catholic Appeal,” she said.
She recently spoke to a young college student who was unsure how a small donation could make an impact. “I tell people that number one, you have to be willing to give,” said Charleston, a member of St. Norbert Parish in Florissant. “And number two, doesn’t matter how small a gift is — it’s not too small to support the appeal. We’re asking everyone to make a pledge, because you’re helping so many people across the archdiocese.”
‘I want to help people, and this is a wonderful place to do it’
Coming back to the Wellston Center was a sweet reunion for Rhonda Kurtz.
In 2000, she came to the center’s food pantry needing help. She was sick and had left a life of military service to get her life together. Then-director Sister Carol Ann Callahan, SSND, befriended Kurtz, offering assistance with food and utilities — and a listening ear.
Kurtz eventually returned to the military, serving in the U.S. Army Reserve and then at a VA hospital. Shortly before her retirement in 2023, she returned to the Wellston Center, this time as a volunteer helping with client intake two days a week.
It was one small way she could give back to an organization that she said “helped save my life.”
Sister Mary Beckman, SSND, started the Wellston Center in 1993 to provide services to people within the boundaries of five north St. Louis parishes — St. Barbara, Notre Dame de Lourdes, St. Mark, St. Rose and St. Edward — that merged to become St. Augustine. (In 2023, St. Augustine was merged with several parishes into the newly formed St. Peter Claver Parish.) A thrift store was opened with the help of Sister Kathy Stark, SSND, and an annual Christmas store was started by the late Sister James Lorene Hogan, CSJ.
The center operates primarily as a food pantry twice a week, with extra hours on some Saturdays, spending about $3,500 weekly on food. About 250 families in four zip codes surrounding the center are served monthly. U.S. Census data estimates that about 25% of residents in those zip codes are food insecure; local organizations estimate that the rate may be closer to 33%.
The Wellston Center is one of the newest recipients of funding from the Annual Catholic Appeal and is slated to receive a $60,000 grant from this year’s campaign. It comes at a critical time, as a 16-year partnership with a New Balance shoe program ended in the fall of 2023, executive director Andrew Diemer said.
The program provided new and gently used sneakers, which were sold at the thrift store well below retail price, and was a critical source of funding, allowing the center to operate independently.
“That was over $100,000 a year in profit that used to come into buying the food here and helping fund this operation,” Diemer said.
In December, the Annual Catholic Appeal awarded a special grant of $45,000 to assist with the financial shortfall. Without the support of the appeal, “that would have probably been a death blow to this organization,” he said.
“Many of the families here are struggling with decisions like, do I fill up my car with gas, or do I buy food? Do I buy a meal for my kids, or do I pay the bills on time?” Diemer said. “The idea of providing families with roughly a quarter of a month’s worth of food is that we can just take a little bit of that burden back so that those decisions aren’t as crushing.”
Some of the Wellston Center’s volunteers have been around since the early days. Volunteers help check in clients, load groceries into the car, price and organize clothing and household items in the thrift store and more.
Judy Pitlyk has volunteered for more than 30 years, primarily helping on the thrift store side. She grew up in nearby University City and often shopped with her family in Wellston and was happy to return to the area as a volunteer. The center is an anchor in the neighborhood and serves the community’s needs in many ways, she said.
“And just being able to help, this is such a great place,” said the member of St. Angela Merici Parish in Florissant. “I want to help people, and this is a wonderful place to do it.”
Agencies supported
SERVING OUR PARISHES DIRECTLY $2,915,000
Elementary School Assistance $2,000,000
Stewardship and Development Support for Parishes, Schools and Agencies $425,000
Office of Peace and Justice $140,000
Parish Emergency Assistance Fund $100,000
Parish Food Pantries $100,000
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis $100,000
Basilica of St. Louis, King of France $50,000
SERVING OUR YOUTH $3,437,000
Archdiocesan and Parochial High Schools $1,480,000
Archdiocesan Seminary $450,000
Vocation Programs $300,000
Newman Centers on College Campuses $272,000
One Classroom $250,000
Religious Formation $200,000
Special Education $200,000
Today and Tomorrow Educational Fund $150,000
High School Stewardship Essay Program $75,000
Office of Youth Ministry $60,000
SERVING THE PEOPLE IN OUR PARISHES $2,128,000
Respect Life Apostolate $450,000
Evangelization and Discipleship $400,000
Adult Faith Formation $370,000
Natural Family Planning $221,000
Hispanic Ministry $215,000
Office of Racial Harmony $130,000
Catholic Deaf Ministry $112,000
Catholic Renewal Center $85,000
Catholic St. Louis Magazine $80,000
Elementary Teachers Educational Fund $40,000
St. Charles Lwanga Center $25,000
SERVING THOSE IN NEED $3,035,000
Catholic Charities $1,650,000
Affordable Housing Fund $500,000
Rural Parish Clinic $360,000
Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service $165,000
Criminal Justice Ministry $75,000
Immigrant and Refugee Ministry $60,000
Bridge of Hope Lincoln County $60,000
The Wellston Center $60,000
Archbishop’s Charity Fund $50,000
Meals Program at Sts. Peter and Paul Church $30,000
Messengers of Peace Mission Work $25,000
SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE US $1,545,000
Care for Active and Retired Priests $750,000
Regina Cleri Priests Retirement Home $370,000
Continuing Formation for Priests $200,000
Permanent Diaconate $150,000
Support for Religious Orders $75,000
OTHER $2,940,000
Annual Catholic Appeal Expenses $1,500,000
Reserve for Unpaid Pledges $960,000
Archdiocesan Services $480,000
None of the money raised by the Annual Catholic Appeal is used to defend or settle criminal or civil lawsuits related to the clergy abuse scandal.
How to donate
The financial goal of the 2025 Annual Catholic Appeal is $16 million. Approximately 91 cents of every dollar goes back into the community in the form of direct services. The appeal will be conducted in parishes the weekends of April 26-27, May 3-4 and May 10-11. To learn more about the Annual Catholic Appeal, visit aca.archstl.org.
