2025 CSA Campaign….

To The Parish Membership,

Once again we are being called upon to prepare for the Catholic Services Appeal (CSA). This campaign cycles through annually, and it represents an opportunity to assist the Diocese as it seeks to support important efforts taking place here, and abroad. Through CSA we fund key ministries and programs at the Diocesan level, such as the Tribunal, Catholic Human Services, Youth Events, and the Vocations Office. Additionally, your pledge enables the Diocese to engage in outreach supporting needs that exist across the wider church community. It should be noted that every diocese is called upon to take part in some kind of an annual appeal. In our Diocese it’s called CSA. In a Diocese like Kalamazoo, it’s referred to as the KDSA. These appeals are designed to sustain the particular Diocese in question, and also to reach beyond those Diocesan boundaries, in acknowledgement of our Catholic identity (the term “Catholic” comes from the Greek and it means “Universal”).

We’ve been assigned a parish target totalling $149.292. This number looks intimidating at first glance. But it becomes very reachable, when individual parishioners begin submitting their pledges. Typically, we will be on track to achieve our target if each contacted household can contribute somewhere between $12 and $15 per month. Some households will be able to do more, while some others will have to do less. Essentially, the hope is that everybody will do something. When shortfalls are incurred, it’s not because the pledges were too small; rather, it has more to do with the pledges that never end up being sent in. Even a dollar a week will help us with our progress. If the zero dollar pledges were to become $52 pledges, we would be looking at a significantly healthier situation.

So we will greatly appreciate whatever it is that you can do. Pledges can be mailed, placed in the collection basket, or you can stop at the parish office. You can also pledge by mail, by visiting the office, or you can pledge electronically at https://dioceseofgaylord.org/giving-catholic-services-appeal . May the Lord bless you for your past generosity, for your present generosity, and for your future generosity. Peace to you all. ~Fr. Greg McCallum, Pastor