DAA dollars support faith formation, Catholic education

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
September 22, 2005

The Diocesan Annual Appeal is designed to help various ministries throughout the Diocese of Sioux City. A few of the ministries include Catholic schools, religious education programs and the offices of catechesis and youth ministry.

The 2005 Diocesan Annual Appeal began the weekend of Sept. 10 and 11. The appeal has been in place for 30 years and this year's goal is $1.4 million.

Linda Anderson, director of catechesis for the diocese, noted that DAA helps support catechesis and youth ministry programs in the diocese.

"We are appreciative of DAA's support for our offices. It is the offices of catechesis and youth ministry that directly interact with the parish programs that provide religious education and youth ministry. We are hear to serve them," said Anderson.

One project that comes out of the office of catechesis is Camp CAYOCA. The camp impacts several hundred throughout the diocese and provides faith formation for youth and adults.

"That is a big program that has been going on for quite a few years," said Anderson. "It is a big undertaking of our offices putting that on."

According to Anderson, her office works with faith formation of youth and adults. She added that faith is a life-long journey.

"A primary role of the church is to provide the ongoing faith formation, catechesis for not only children but adults as well in the parishes," said Anderson. "Without people having knowledge about their faith and being able to share that with others, the church will not continue to grow and thrive in the way it has throughout history. People need that knowledge in order to understand what Jesus has asked of us, understand what it takes to live out the Gospel message. That is what we are about."

The offices of catechesis and youth ministry are there to help provide the knowledge, the support and the programs for people in the parishes. Anderson noted that her ministry is to help enable parishioners to do their ministry on a local level.

Another ministry in the diocese that receives DAA dollars is the Catholic schools.

"The DAA allows us to continue the ministry of Catholic education mostly in the sense that the services that we offer from the office of education are greatly enhanced by DAA," said Kevin Vickery, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Sioux City. "Our ability to work with the schools in creating religious curriculum, working on the state and diocesan requirements, all those things the office of education is supported by those efforts."

Vickery continued that the parishes that are supporting schools are also enhanced by DAA. Part of the monies that the parishes receive back to support their schools is raised through DAA.

Based on 100 percent of parish goal achievement, each parish receives the following return: a parish with two parish schools will receive 74 percent and the diocese receives 26 percent; a parish with one school receives 34 percent and the diocese receives 66 percent; a parish with no school receives 5 percent while the diocese receives 95 percent.

He pointed out that providing Catholic education is important because "this is our chance to let our children know what is right and what is wrong - how to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and with the church as part of the community of believers. That is why we have to have Catholic education."

"Another reason we have Catholic education is to help the parents, who are the primary catechists, to enhance their ministry of raising their children in the church," said Vickery. "We don't do this all by ourselves. We as Catholics believe we are Catholic because we are part of a community. This is our effort in saying that everyone in the parish has part of the responsibility of helping everyone - the young people - to grow in their faith, to know their faith and to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ."

Vickery explained that as a part of a Catholic schools' environment what they are able to do is "immerse children into an environment that allows them to do that the whole time they are in school - while they are involved in sporting activities, while they are involved in the music activities. We are hoping to nurture that relationship with others and with Christ all the time that they are with us."

Other diocesan entities and ministries that receive dollars from DAA include Catholic Charities, multi-cultural ministries, adult and family ministries, Religious Education Media Center, the permanent diaconate, the Tribunal and the Peace and Justice Action Commission.

Parishioners were sent their direct mail pieces during the week of Sept. 12-16. For more information contact the Diocesan Chancery Office.