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Contents
Headline Hopscotch 3
News 3
Commentary. 4-5
DDA 6
Around the Diocese 7
Faith Alive! 8-9
Notices 10-11
Last But Not Least 12
Vol. 80, No. 5
$.50 PER ISSUE
Thursday, February 3, 2000
(gifted for 150 years...a
Savannah
n Christmas Eve, 1999, Pope John Paul II “Opened Wide the Doors” in
Rome, to begin the Jubilee Year 2000. The Diocese of Savannah marks two
significant events in this Jubilee Year: its sesquicentennial (the 150 th anniversary)
of its establishment and the 100 th
anniversary of the rededication of the
Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, the
mother church of the diocese.
The Diocesan Development Appeal
picks up on the sesquicentennial with
the theme...Gifted for 150 years...a
grateful church responds. In looking
back over the past 150 years, the
Diocese of Savannah has been gifted—
in its growth, in its leadership, in the
dedication of its clergy and laity, in its
diversity, in its tenacity in proclaiming
the Gospel message in south Georgia.
The current and 13 th Bishop of
Savannah, J. Kevin Boland, admits to
being constantly energized and edified
by the depth of the faith found in so
many of the small rural communities
whose parishes have sometimes as few
as 50 families. “It is amazing to me,”
he said, “that these small pockets of
the Catholic faith have grown into such
vibrant communities of Christian wit
ness. One of our great gifts has been
the many priests who have worked in
these rural areas over the years and
who continue that work today.”
While acknowledging the many gifts
that have gone before, diocesan per
sonnel are also looking to the future.
Sister Mary Faith McKean, RSM,
diocesan chancellor, speaks about the
challenges that lie ahead in the coming
millennium and the need for funding.
“We need to continue building on the
strong foundation we have. In so many
areas—the Hispanic apostolate, lay
ministry preparation and vocation
work, for instance—the results are
already visible.”
Sister Jackie Griffith, SSJ, Director
of Catholic Social Services for the dio
cese, sees firsthand the necessity for
the DDA as it applies to her ministry.
“You only have to listen to the news or
read the newspaper to see the growing
disparity between the rich and poor
people. To express our solidarity with
our brothers and sisters in need, it is
imperative that we share our personal and financial resources,” she said.
The Jubilee Campaign last year raised $200,000 for communications and
technology. “These capital improvement funds will get us started, but we will
be depending on monies raised by the DDA for ongoing funding,” said Barbara
gratefuC church responds
King, Director of Communications. “The director of our new Office of
Technology Services, Jim Knapp, has developed a detailed plan for linking our
diocesan offices with parishes, schools and social service centers. The plan has
received the tentative approval of Bishop Boland as long as each phase is finan
cially viable. With the help of sup
port from the DDA, we will work to
bring the members of our widely dis
persed Catholic community in south
Georgia in closer contact with each
other.”
One of the jobs of the Office of
Stewardship and Development is to
ask the members of the diocesan
family to assist in the ministries of
the diocese. Pat Signs, who directs
the annual DDA, hopes to raise $1.3
million in the next two months. “This
money is needed each year to carry
out the mission of the diocese. We
raised close to $1.5 million in 1998
when we last had the DDA,” said
Signs, “and are confident that we will
do equally well this year.” (The 1999
DDA was incorporated into the
Jubilee Campaign, One Faith...One
Family and not held as a separate
appeal.)
“This coming weekend’s second
reading from Paul,” commented
Bishop Boland, “says ‘I offer the
Gospel free of charge...’ It seems
ironic that this falls on the same day
we come asking for financial support.
The Word is, indeed, free to all of us.
However, the means employed to
sustain and spread the Word requires
money. An example, I suppose, of
the idealistic versus the realistic.”
During the coming week each reg
istered family in the diocese will
receive a letter, brochure and pledge
card in the mail. Families will be
asked to make a nine-month pledge.
“Our average gift in 1998,” said
Signs, “was $200.32 from 7,570
gifts. This represented 27.4 % of our
families. We are hoping to raise the
percentage to at least 30% this year,”
she said.
Compared to other dioceses
throughout the country, the average
gift from the Diocese of Savannah is
high, but the percentage of participa
tion is low. For 1997, the last year for
which national figures are available, the comparisons are as follows :
Participation Average gift
National Average 36.7% $135.15
Savannah Diocese 27.4% $200.32