Nov. 11-12 is United Catholic Appeal intention weekend in local Church

Criterion staff report

The weekend of Nov. 11-12 is the archdiocesan annual United Catholic Appeal (UCA) intention weekend in parishes across central and southern Indiana.

The goal for this year’s appeal is $6.5 million. The money will be distributed to various ministries and organizations throughout central and southern Indiana that provide help that no single parish or deanery could independently offer.

Archbishop Charles C. Thompson notes that diocesan appeals are “about how we continue to reach out to the dignity of persons through our ministries and services.

“ ‘All it takes is one good person to restore hope’ to all those people who society so often pushes aside,” he says, quoting this year’s appeal theme—a line from Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, “Laudauto Si’, on Care for Our Common Home.”

Those people in central and southern Indiana are served in three ways through funds raised in the UCA: faith formation and Catholic education; education of future priests and deacons and clergy care; and charity and outreach.

The UCA supports the formation of the 24 archdiocesan seminarians and future deacon candidates. It also aids more than 40 retired priests, and helps priests and deacons currently ministering in parishes across central and southern Indiana to continue to grow in their faith through retreats and sabbaticals.

Contributions to the UCA help make possible programs across central and southern Indiana for 3,250 young adult Catholics; 3,000 college students who want to stay connected to their faith; 30,000 people served in parish catechetical programs; and more than 8,300 youths in youth ministry.

A wide array of charitable and outreach ministries across central and southern Indiana also benefit from the UCA, including more than 210,000 people in need of food, clothing, shelter and support, as well as tuition assistance for students in need who attend the archdiocesan Notre Dame ACE Academies.

“On behalf of all of those who do not have a voice, I thank you for being their voice,” says Archbishop Thompson.
 

(For more information on the United Catholic Appeal, visit www.archindy.org/UCA or call the Office of Stewardship and Development at 317-236-1415 or 800‑382-9836, ext. 1415.) †