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By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor

When the Diocese of Sioux City opted to hold a capital campaign, four critical areas of need were identified. These four areas - Catholic schools, faith formation ministries, multi-cultural ministries and Catholic Charities - directly benefit from investment income of the endowed Centennial Campaign for Excellence funds.

Every Catholic school in the diocese recently received a check from the second-year investment income. The other three ministries also received funds.

The $21,000 that went for faith formation has been distributed to three diocesan departments. Adult faith formation, youth ministry and religious education each received $7,000 for programming and resources.

"It's a real blessing to have some funds to work with to apply to formation for people out in the diocese," said Linda Anderson, director of catechesis. "We are always hoping to be able to offer additional things whether it be speakers or whether we are able to send somebody out to parishes to offer formation for those who catechize our children - DREs, youth ministers and catechists in religious education programs."

By enhancing the knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith in these catechetical parish leaders, she explained that then they are better equipped to share it with others.

Anderson, who is also currently leading the youth ministry efforts for the diocese, pointed out that she would also like to bring in a well-known speaker to offer an ICN presentation on the concept of whole community catechesis. This type of event would be open to all adults in the diocese whether or not they are directly involved in catechesis.

"I would like to say thank you to the people who were willing to make contributions to the campaign because ongoing faith formation is very important to the church. Without funds to backup things, we are limited as to what we can do," she said. "While the people out in the parishes are making this contribution, hopefully we will be able to turn this around and use it to serve people out in the parishes."

Bev Hurni, director of family ministries, pointed out that she plans to discuss the various options that may be addressed with the Adult and

Family Ministries Board.

One area she plans to seriously investigate is the training of additional persons to teach Natural Family Planning classes. She has received requests for this, especially from pastors in the northern half of the diocese.

"People need to be trained and certified in order to teach Natural Family Planning," noted Hurni. "These funds would give us the opportunity to get some training for folks."

She would love to surface names of individuals or couples who would be interested in getting this training.

"The church is recognizing more and more the need for adult formation. This will give us some avenues to look at opportunities to provide for people," she said.

For example, she may investigate additional retreats for adults or possibly look into various resource material in which adults or families from any parish could use to enhance their faith. Ministry to the elderly, she noted, is one more specific need that will be considered.

"The bishops are also talking about the standards for training lay ecclesial ministers (pastoral ministers, DREs, youth ministers, liturgists) so as that gets more and more defined funds may be used for that."

Knowing that there are tough financial times for many people right now, Hurni acknowledged that donations to a campaign such as this is a sacrifice for many people.

Multi-cultural ministries received $14,000 from the interest income of the centennial campaign.

According to Juan Garcia, coordinator of the Hispanic ministry in the diocese, money from the campaign distribution will be used for leadership formation in the various parishes where there are a significant number of Hispanics.

"We are also investing money in Bible classes for leaders. We offer classes in Sioux Center and Storm Lake. This helps them develop more confidence because they know the Bible better and this enables them to teach others in the ministries that they are serving," he said.

Garcia extended thanks to all of the people who contributed to the campaign because it helps in the efforts to strengthen the church for the future.

"In another 40 years, the Hispanics may be the majority in the Catholic Church," he said. Through the campaign, contributors are helping the church in "growing all together. If we don't keep this generation of Catholic Hispanics, we will loose a very significant number of Catholics in the United States."

Interest income from the centennial campaign generated $31,500 for Catholic Charities.

Jerry Eaton, executive director of Catholic Charities, pointed out that with the severe cuts in government funding which in the past had helped to offset some of the costs of the agency, the funds from the centennial campaign distribution will go to keep current services afloat rather than the development of new programs or services.

"The government has cutback significantly in the amount of money that they make available for the poor, so there is presently a huge demand. Without this money, I don't know where we would be," stressed Eaton.

At a time when there has been an increased need for services due in part to tough financial times, Catholic Charities has had to layoff employees.

"Having this centennial campaign and the money that comes from it has helped us be able to maintain services during this very critical period of time," said Eaton. "It always renews and restores my faith anytime I even think about this. There are so many people out there that giving is a natural part of who they are and because of that they give money that is sorely needed and oftentimes they are giving it without any real knowledge of how that money will be spent."

Catholic Charities has provided services to people from each and every county in the Diocese of Sioux City. They have served more than 5,000 people this fiscal year alone.

"To have the people in this diocese give us the support that they do - it is a really good feeling to be a part of that," said Eaton.