United Catholic Appeal intention weekend on Nov. 14-15 is ‘our time to make a difference’

By Natalie Hoefer

The weekend of Nov. 14-15 is the archdiocesan annual United Catholic Appeal (UCA) intention weekend in parishes across central and southern Indiana.

The goal for this year’s appeal is $6.3 million. The money will be distributed to archdiocesan ministries and organizations that provide help no single parish or deanery could independently offer. (Related: Where does my United Catholic Appeal donation go?)

“It is in the name of Jesus Christ, that we make our 2020 United Catholic Appeal,” said Archbishop Charles C. Thompson during a special UCA Mass at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis on Sept. 24. “The ministries and services of our Church are essential to carrying out the mission entrusted to us by the Lord.

“Funding is necessary for these ministries and services to exist. … This is our time to make a difference.”

He noted that throughout his public ministry, Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was at hand.

“It remains so today,” the archbishop said. “And the UCA is our means of contributing to making this more evident in the lives of individuals, families and communities.”

During his homily, the archbishop announced the theme of this year’s appeal: “Hope for Tomorrow.”

With the tremendous loss of jobs and wages from the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased number of people in the archdiocese’s 39 counties—more than 40% of the state—turned to the Church in search of hope for their tomorrows.

As always, the Church responded, providing food, clothing and shelter to those in need regardless of religion, race or ethnicity.

Meanwhile, the need to care for retired priests has not diminished. Nor has the need for forming seminarians and deacons, and for forming children and adults through education and catechesis.

While no parish or deanery alone can meet these needs, donations to the United Catholic Appeal make help possible. For example:

• $10 provides undergarments for two homeless children.
• $50 feeds a family of five with three meals a day for five days.
• $100 invests in future families by providing 30 sponsor couples with training on how to mentor newly-engaged couples.
• $400 pays the tuition for one seminarian to participate in a summer hospital chaplaincy program.
• $600 helps a leader or catechist to attend an annual regional conference to better their ministry.

“There are constantly winds and storms in our lives, in our families, for our Church and our communities,” said Archbishop Thompson in a UCA video. “Through it all, we have to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

“If we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, he will not only help us to be safe and secure, but more importantly help us to help others in his name. And that’s what gives me hope.”
 

(To view the UCA video and other stories of hope through help from archdiocesan ministries and organizations throughout central and southern Indiana, go to archindy.org/UCA or call the Office of Stewardship and Development at 317-236-1591 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1591.) †