The ACA represents more than 51% of the support needed to fund the diocesan ministries each year. The Bishop asks Catholics in the Diocese to generously support these important and on-going ministries that provide educational, pastoral, and charitable outreach to those living in the Diocese, by giving to the ACA.

The ACA funds over 26 on-going ministries and services of the Church. These very important ministries and services are beyond the resources of any single parish. Coordinating programs at the Diocesan level, such as religious education, seminarian education and vocations, lay ministry formation, youth and young adults ministry, prison ministry, etc., eliminates duplication, provides consistency, and saves both time and money.

The programs at your parish are very important and much of the work of the Church and the Diocese takes place at the local level. However, there are certain specialized services such as education, vocations, diocesan conferences and trainings, construction project services, for which the Diocese takes the major responsibility. These are services no single parish can provide and must be shared by all.

The decision on how much to give needs to be personal and prayerful. God has given each of us gifts, graces, talents and abilities, which are to be shared responsibly and wisely with others. We are also challenged to make our financial gifts from substance, not abundance, and in proportion to our blessings.