Campaign Executive Committees

Published
FFHL Logo
February 3, 2014
Issue 19
 
 
Campaign Executive Committees
St. Eugene Parish in Asheville is actively engaged in the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love effort. Fr. Pat Cahill invited six families to attend a Campaign Executive Orientation and Training meeting on Wednesday evening. His enthusiasm towards and support of the campaign was evident and inspiring to those families he has asked to be part of his leadership team. Fr. Pat explained, “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love is an opportunity to make a huge impact on St. Eugene Parish and Asheville Catholic School, while simultaneously supporting the greater Church of western North Carolina. Our diocese is exploding with growth, which not many dioceses can say, so this campaign is integral to our future.”
Parishioners at the meeting agreed this is important to the local church, and the Diocese of Charlotte. One Ambassador quoted the second reading from Sunday, January 26, asking that the leadership team “be united in the same mind and in the same purpose”, and positively advocate for the campaign to other parishioners. St. Eugene received its first gift this week and is on its way to achieving the challenge goal of $2,100,000 they have set for themselves. 
 
Campaign Statistics
 
 
Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love received 442 gifts totaling $1,216,732 this week. With many Block II parishes setting up their Campaign Executive Committees more parishioners will be invited to participate in the campaign, in the coming weeks. 
 
  
*A portion of the Leadership Gifts Phase total raised is shared with parishes, therefore the overall total is less than the sum of the individual phases. 
 
* Retired, but pastor when campaign was conducted. 
 
 
 
Good News
 
 
Block One 
 
Fr. Bob Ferris and Fr. Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar at St. Aloysius in Hickory offered every parishioner the opportunity to participate in the campaign at Masses last weekend. From this appeal, 291 gifts totaling $656,801 were generously committed. St. Aloysius has now raised $1,744,010, or 97%, of the overall $1,800,000 goal. Good luck to both priests as they give families a final opportunity to make a decision this weekend.  
 
Fr. Jack Timlin at St. Mary in Greensboro shared the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love effort with families during Multicultural Masses. This effort is offering a once in a lifetime opportunity for families of all nationalities to join their brothers and sisters in Christ in furthering the mission of the Catholic Church throughout western North Carolina.
 
Families at St. Gabriel in Charlotte were introduced to Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love during a special meeting held last week. Fr. Frank O’Rourke shared that this effort was an opportunity to answer God’s call to stewardship. He shared with families how “the Diocese is blessed that young men are answering God’s call to a priestly vocation, but we recognize that the costs to educate a seminarian have increased over the past several years.” He went on to say, “Retiring priests who have served us so well deserve a dignified and modest retirement for their years of dedicated service.”
 
Fr. Adrian Porras at St. Barnabas in Arden hosted a special reception with more than 15 families last Saturday for the parish’s Hispanic community. At this event, Fr. Adrian invited families to consider a sacrificial commitment. The growth of the area and the community has increased the need for additional meeting space. Fr. Adrian hopes that the campaign will assist the community in moving forward with the building of a new Multi-Purpose Center. 
 
Block Two
 
Fr. Pat Cahill hosted a successful leadership committee and orientation at St. Eugene in Asheville. The team is excited to get started and has already received their first gift.
 
The Leadership Team at St. Matthew in Charlotte continues to visit parishioners to share the components of Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love.  They welcomed more than $60,000 from parishioners who are excited to be part of an effort to strengthen the Catholic Church for future generations. 
 
Fr. Joseph Mack at St. Paul the Apostle in Greensboro began recruiting his Campaign Executive Committee. The Ambassadors he has recruited are dedicated to supporting Catholic education, pastoral resources, priest retirement, seminarians, and Catholic Charities.