DAA kicks off in parishes Sept. 9 and 10

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
August 31, 2006

He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."

The theme of this year's Diocesan Annual Appeal is based on that Scripture verse, Luke 10:2.

The kickoff weekend is slated for Sept. 9 and 10. At Masses that weekend, pastors or parish volunteers will explain about the appeal and a letter from Bishop R. Walker Nickless pertaining to DAA will be read by the pastors.

According to Steve Elbert, diocesan director of development, this year's goal is $1.4 million.

"The DAA funds diocesan ministries. Roughly 51 percent of the goal comes back to the diocese for us to invest our ministry at the chancery," he explained. "It positively impacts a tremendous amount of programs. In turn, those chancery programs help keep our parishes strong in their ministries."

Those ministries include education, youth ministry, adult and family ministries, vocations, tribunal, the diaconate, religious education, Hispanic ministry, media center, worship, archives and other chancery programs. Catholic Charities will receive $100,000 through the DAA.

More than 40 percent of the DAA goal is returned to the parishes. Based on a $1.4 million goal, $585,000 will be returned to the parishes.

As with past years, anything that is raised above a parish's goal is returned to the parish. For example, if a parish has a goal of $10,000 and it raises $15,000, then the $5,000 that surpasses their goal will go to them along with the parish's designated percentage of the initial goal.

"Hundreds of ministries and programs benefit from the DAA - both diocesan and the parish," said Elbert.

In addition to awareness raised at liturgies Sept. 9 and 10, parishioners may have the opportunity to view a DVD that was produced for the appeal.

"The bishop explains the DAA and his vision for the Diocesan Annual Appeal," noted Elbert.

On the DVD, Bishop Nickless spoke of the need to grow in holiness to serve the Lord.

"That awareness of our need to grow in holiness demands that we do something about it," he said. "One of the ways that we do that is to support the ministry of the church. I as the bishop am a shepherd, a teacher and a leader. I can't do it all by myself so I need people and programs to help me and that's what the DAA does. It supports the work of the chancery and all of the things I do as bishop."

The bishop spoke of the many needs of the diocese and the programs of the chancery which try to address those needs.

"I would ask each person to prayerfully consider what God has given them and then be able to share that as much as they can so that the work that we do together can expand and touch more than just their parish," said Bishop Nickless.

The DVD also featured comments of Father Michael Erpelding, pastor at St. Joseph Church in Sioux City. Last year, as a first-time sole pastor, he was determined to make his DAA goal.

"I decided to press on with the project and contact everyone in the parish - giving them all an opportunity to participate, even the opportunity to say no," he noted.

Along with asking parishioners if they wished to participate in DAA, the priest used it as an opportunity to ask his parishioners about their pastoral needs.

"I not only had the benefit of bringing in more funding for the DAA, there was more awareness for the DAA and there was more awareness for the parish. Some people came back to church because of that short conversation," said Father Erpelding. "The process brought evangelization."

Each parish received a copy of the DVD in their materials. Parishes are asked to play it during coffees and at meetings that are held throughout the DAA season.

Parishioners should receive information in the mail the week following DAA kickoff weekend.

"It is different this year. We have personalized more than in the past. Each household will receive a letter from Bishop Nickless asking them to support the DAA and asking them to consider a modest increase," noted Elbert.

Also included in the mailing will be a commitment card and return envelope.

"We ask that parishioners prayerfully consider the amount that they would like to contribute this year," said Elbert, who added that parishioners are to place the envelopes with DAA contribution in the offertory basket at Mass.

People are encouraged to respond to the DAA within a week or two - if possible - of DAA kickoff weekend.

"We are very blessed to live in this part of the world," he said. "We are hopeful that people consider a generous contribution to the DAA. It has been an important program for the past 30 years and we are hoping that it is even more successful this year."