Overage money will continue to fund affordable housing projects
Catholics in the archdiocese raised a record $17.2 million in this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal to support important ministries across the archdiocese.
The appeal raised close to $17.1 million from pledges and endowment earnings. Including estate gifts and anticipated matching gifts, the total exceeds $17.2 million. The 2024 goal was $15.5 million.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski thanked all those who gave to the appeal “for sacrificing to make a real difference in the lives of others.”
“Your generous gifts will help serve even more people through Catholic education, Catholic Charities, parish ministries and more, like affordable housing initiatives across the archdiocese,” he said. “Thanks be to God, who lavishes us with gifts and calls us to be generous with each other.”
Scott and Sara Parks prayed before a meal in their new home May 16 in Hawk Point. The Parks were recently residents of the Bridge of Hope shelter near Troy. Some of the overage of the 2024 Annual Catholic Appeal will be used to support affordable housing in the archdiocese.
One million dollars of the overage funds — the money raised beyond the goal — will be set aside for affordable housing projects through the recently established Affordable Housing Fund, ACA executive director Brian Niebrugge said. The archdiocese’s All Things New social outreach subcommittee identified in a 2023 report that affordable housing is among the most pressing unmet needs for struggling families.
The $1 million for affordable housing follows the same designation of overage funds from the 2023 appeal. In July, the ACA awarded the 2023 money to eight organizations: Assisi House, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Peter &Paul Community Services, The Care Service at Sts. Joachim &Ann, Room at the Inn, St. Joseph Housing Initiative, St. Patrick Center and Hearts, Hands and Homes.
Another portion of this year’s overage funds will go to Sts. Peter and Paul Church, which is working to fix up its church basement, previously an emergency shelter operated by Peter &Paul Community Services. The nonprofit has moved the shelter to a new location in north St. Louis, and Sts. Peter and Paul Church is exploring options to reopen the space to provide services to individuals experiencing homelessness.
More overage grants are planned for Catholic education, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France (Old Cathedral) and the religious orders assistance fund, as well as others not yet finalized, Niebrugge said.
Generous response
Then-transitional deacon Jeff Fennewald talked with young men during a youth group gathering April 28 at Ascension Parish in Chesterfield. Father Fennewald attended Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, which is supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal.
According to data from the ACA, 31,716 households participated in this year’s appeal. That’s down nearly 2,000 households from 2023, when 33,597 gave.
But across the archdiocese, 59 parishes improved participation — up from 33 that improved last year — and 77 achieved their new donor goal. Eighty-five parishes surpassed their financial goal, and 50 reached their challenge goal.
The people of the archdiocese should be proud of the record-breaking total raised, ACA chair Mike Heck said. But the question for us all to consider remains the same: How are we, as faithful Catholics, called to do more to help others in need?
“(The appeal) just continually raises that question in my mind, and I’m grateful. I think everybody would rather be lying on a beach with a little glass with a funny umbrella in it, but that’s not reality,” said Heck, a parishioner at Mary Mother of the Church in south St. Louis County. “The reality is that we’re challenged every day, and that challenge is a good thing as long as we respond in the way Jesus would like us to.”
Ascension Parish in Chesterfield gave the highest amount of any parish, surpassing the $1 million mark for a total of $1,008,307.
The parish’s ACA total has been steadily approaching $1 million over the past several years. The parish team made a big push to reach that goal in honor of Ascension’s 100th anniversary this year, Ascension ACA chair Mike Hagenhoff said.
“The people of Ascension, when they’ve been asked to help, have never not responded very, very generously,” said Hagenhoff, who has led the parish ACA for about 15 years. “We continue to try to show the people, this is where your dollars are going, and historically, they just continue to increase.”
St. Louis Catholic Academy kindergarteners Kayla Miller and Golden Brown-Crockett high-fived during the first day of the school year Aug. 14 at the new location of St. Louis Catholic Academy in St. Louis.
St. Wenceslaus Parish in St. Louis had the highest participation, with 98% giving to the appeal. St. Joseph in Apple Creek, St. Maurus in Biehle and Sts. Peter and Paul in Soulard all achieved more than 70% participation.
For several parishes in the archdiocese, 2024 marked the first appeal since their parishes underwent changes as part of the All Things New pastoral planning process.
St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish in St. Louis, which subsumed Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. John the Baptist parishes, more than doubled its challenge goal, raising $75,762 with more than 40% participation.
At age 34, St. Stephen chair Will Hartzler is on the younger end of parish ACA leaders. He and his wife and co-chair, Meghan, lean in to digital communications, using Flocknote and emails in addition to printed materials. ACA team members from the former Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. John the Baptist also helped make personal connections among the newly unified parish.
Whether it’s an email or face-to-face talk, the most important thing is sharing the stories of the ACA’s money at work, Hartzler said.
“We’ve got certain challenges in south St. Louis that the ACA is very gracious in providing support to, like the Immigrant and Refugee Services based out of St. Pius V. So it’s neat because that’s close and a lot of people are very familiar with it,” he said. “And then to things that we may not think of, like the Rural Parish Clinic, it’s neat to bring those to the parish and shine a light.”
St. Josephine Bakhita Parish, which was formed from Most Holy Trinity, St. Nicholas and Sts. Teresa and Bridget parishes, also exceeded its challenge goal, giving $32,719 with 38% participation. Parish chair Ken Patterson brought nearly three decades of experience leading the ACA at Most Holy Trinity.
Despite the challenges that come with merging parishes, Patterson and the St. Josephine Bakhita team found parishioners would continue to rally around ministries serving those with great needs.
“It’s just stressing the importance of what the money goes to, the neighbors in need, and what the archdiocese is doing around the community,” he said. “The Annual Catholic Appeal makes a big difference in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and we have a strong leader in the archbishop and his team. We need to continue to support the archdiocese.”
Supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal
SERVING OUR PARISHES DIRECTLY
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 $75,000
Basilica of St. Louis, King of France $50,000
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis $50,000
SERVING OUR YOUTH
Archdiocesan and Parochial High Schools $1,416,000
Archdiocesan Seminary $500,000
Vocation Programs $380,000
Newman Centers on College Campuses $265,000
One Classroom $210,000
Religious Formation $200,000
Special Education $200,000
Today and Tomorrow Educational Fund $150,000
High School Stewardship Essay Program $55,000
Office of Youth Ministry $40,000
SERVING THE PEOPLE IN OUR PARISHES
Respect Life Apostolate $450,000
Evangelization and Discipleship $400,000
Adult Faith Formation $370,000
Natural Family Planning $221,000
Hispanic Ministry $200,000
Office of Racial Harmony $130,000
Catholic Deaf Ministry $112,000
Catholic St. Louis Magazine $80,000
Catholic Renewal Center $77,000
Elementary Teachers Educational Fund $75,000
St. Charles Lwanga Center $25,000
SERVING THOSE IN NEED
Catholic Charities $1,650,000
Rural Parish Clinic $325,000
Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service $155,000
Criminal Justice Ministry $75,000
Bridge of Hope Lincoln County $50,000
Rural Parish Workers $50,000
Archbishop’s Charity Fund $30,000
Messengers of Peace Mission Work $25,000
Meals Program and Sts. Peter and Paul Church $15,000
SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE US
Care for Active and Retired Priests $974,000
Regina Cleri Priests Retirement Home $370,000
Continuing Formation for Priests $280,000
Permanent Diaconate $100,000
Support for Religious Orders $50,000
OTHER
Annual Catholic Appeal Expenses $1,500,000
Reserve for Unpaid Pledges $930,000
Archdiocesan Services $465,000
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.
