DAA kicks off September 6 and 7

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
August 28, 2003

This year's Diocean Annual Appeal is right around the corner.

The kickoff for this year's Diocesan Annual Appeal is slated for Sept. 6 and 7.

"People will begin to receive their commitment cards in the mail the week of Sept. 8," explained Steve Elbert, director of development. "Our volunteers and the pastors - who do such a good job for us - will start processing them and return them to the DAA office by mid-September."

The goal for the 2003 DAA is just over $1.3 million.

Last spring, Bishop DiNardo asked that a committee be formed to review the parish payback structure. The committee consisted of Father Gerald Feierfeil, Julie Luft, Kay Morrissey, Kevin Vickery, Jim Wharton and Elbert.

"Our directives were to evaluate what had been done as far as the present system and make changes that would be fair to the parishes," explained Elbert. "We also wanted to evaluate the percentages retained by two-school, one-school and no school parishes."

The parish payback structure is as follows: the two-school parish will receive a return of 74 percent of their goal as opposed to 78 percent in the past, the one-school parish will receive a return of 34 percent as opposed to the previous 38 percent and the no school parishes will receive 5 percent as opposed to former 12 percent. Any money raised that is above the parish's specific goal, is returned directly to the parish.

"This new formula does generate an extra $100,000 for diocesan ministries and programs," noted Elbert. "We spread the program and ministries cost across the parishes and tried to do it in the most fair way possible."

The diocese has identified growing needs in minorities ministries and other program needs. At the same time, diocesan income has declined due to poor market conditions.

To achieve the goal of $1,300,104 each household in the Diocese of Sioux City would have to give $36. The parish number of households was based on the vital statistics number reported to the diocese by the pastors.

"Last year 46 percent gave to DAA," noted Elbert. "We are hoping that even more people will support our ministries. We would like to get that percentage of participation up to 52 to 54 percent. In the past, it has been as high as 52 percent. Some dioceses do get 60 percent participation."

Money raised through DAA helps fund Catholic schools, parish religious education programs, the religious education media center, multi-cultural ministries, the marriage tribunal, adult and family ministries, Catholic Charities, Peace and Justice Action Commission, permanent diaconate, general program underwriting and diocesan offices.

"We in turn help the parishes with financial services, stewardship programs and development programs," said Elbert. "The DAA has always been the foundation for these programs."

The entire Catholic community benefits from donations to DAA through the various diocesan programs it supports.

Elbert extended thanks to the people who have supported the Diocesan Annual Appeal in the past.

"We hope people will continue to support DAA because it is a very efficient and effective way to support both parish and diocesan programs," he said.