MERRILLVILLE – In response to some parishes requesting to launch their Catholic Services Appeal closer to the season of Lent, the Diocese of Gary recently provided campaign information to parishes during a meeting on Feb. 4, allowing more time for them to prepare prior to engaging parishioners.
This year's Catholic Services Appeal is under the following theme “On the Way with Jesus.” During the CSA kick off meeting, Bishop Robert J. McClory reflected on a related term that Pope Francis used – accompaniment.
“It's a good word that we accompany Jesus,” said the diocesan shepherd. “He accompanies us, and we together are walking with Jesus, so it invites us to accompany one another in Christ.”
Bishop McClory continued, reinforcing the importance of CSA. He explained CSA gifts provide vital resources that individual parishes could not sustain alone. Those resources include three broad areas:
One is outreach and support, the kind of outreach that originates in Catholic Charities, prison ministry and counseling for the poor.
Another area is faith formation. While that does occur at the parish level, the diocese specifically looks at vocations and priestly development. Support for vocations is given through the Catholic Services Appeal, not just for priestly vocations, but also for vocations to the permanent diaconate as well as marriage preparation, which is to ensure that couples get off to a good start in their vocation. Youth events are also supported through CSA to be able to reach young people as they enter the stage of vocational openness.
Funds are also given to communications. Digital media and discipleship tools continue to expand and CSA assists in supporting those. “Stewardship is essential to discipleship,” Bishop McClory said. He said there are all sorts of ministries but the financial support allows and empowers many to do this work on the diocese’s behalf.
“We're all called to ministry in some way, but not everybody can do everything,” he said. “And the material support allows others to engage in that ministry.”
Bishop McClory referenced that the Catholic Church is in a Jubilee year, a Jubilee Year of St. Francis, celebrating St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis heard the call in the small chapel to rebuild the church. The bishop noted that was initially interpreted in a very concrete, physical way – the building itself, but St. Francis began to realize that it was the Church, as in the people of God, that needed to be rebuilt.
“That includes all of us in our faith, all of us serving the Lord, and St. Francis certainly was one to invite others, to accompany and to walk with Jesus,” he said.
The bishop stressed that the Catholic Services Appeal is critical for carrying out diocesan ministries and added he is grateful for those working within the parishes who support and encourage others to give generously – helping the local Church continue its mission.
Chief Financial Officer Kathy Tomasik noted that what the parishes brought in collectively through last year's CSA was “a tremendous credit to everybody's effort.”
“I think it's a great success, and I hope you're very pleased with yourself,” she said, speaking to the room of priests and parish staff. “You engaged your parishioners and brought in a lot of money.”
Tomasik confirmed that the funds that come into the Diocese of Gary’s central office through CSA goes toward programs that include Catholic Charities, seminarians tuition assistance, etc.
There is also the opportunity for the rest of the money to go back to the parishes whether it's for a building campaign or building up a ministry
“We have seen in various parishes that it is very successful to bring in additional themes from the parish along with the CSA theme to outreach to parishioners for donations,” Tomasik said.
Representatives from St. Thomas More spoke about their success in exceeding their CSA goals. Noreen Bickel, director of parish mission at St. Thomas More, said that the parish’s success was in part due to following some tidbits and helpful hints she had received from attending meetings over the years.
“We actually finally did take the time this past year to implement some of them, and it's been awesome,” she said.
Bickel explained the church ran what it called a two-year campaign. In 2024 and 2025 it combined fundraising efforts with CSA because those at the parish knew they had a very large project ahead of them – replacing the roof of the church.The parish staff created a timeline for the campaign and then started to ask a variety of individuals, young and old parishioners, to speak to why they give to CSA.
Bickel felt it was important for the parish to thank donors continuously throughout the campaign, whether it was through the weekly bulletin or announcements made by the pastor Father Michael Yadron.
“Father Mike has always been great that if we start a project, we finish that project. We get it done, so it's building that trust,” Bickel said. “Our parishioners knew that if we said we're going to work, and we're going to do this, we are going to get that job done. We're going to spend the money how we've told them.”
Bickel also shared that the non cash options (such as stock donations) available through the diocese also helped make the Catholic Services Appeal successful.
Judy Holicky, coordinator of stewardship and development, said it is important to acknowledge culture changes among generations. She offered a fact for reflection that in the next 25 years it is estimated $124 trillion will be transferred across generations with nearly $85 trillion passing from the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers and Gen Xers to Millennials and Gen Z.
“The historic and cultural shift is redefining philanthropy, making it essential for our schools and churches to understand and adapt to those of all generations.”
Holicky said she tries to share new things that spark the imagination and offer encouragement to parishes in any way possible. In addition she tries to add more stewardship into the CSA campaign each year, focusing on both discipleship and stewardship.
“I really want to expose the spiritual side of giving,” she said.
For more information visit https://dcgary.org/csa. Additional questions may be sent to csa@dcgary.org, or answered by calling Holicky (219) 769-9292 ext. 88268 or Kelly Coppage at ext. 88250.
