Pope Francis recently challenged more than 1,000 bishops from around the world to get out of their cathedrals to spread the gospel and serve those most in need. Led by Bishop David Zubik, Catholics in the Diocese of Pittsburgh are already fulfilling this baptismal call through their enthusiastic support of Our Campaign for The Church Alive!

“Seeing the Pope in Rio de Janeiro was a dramatic reminder that the Church is bigger than our own parish—we’re part of something worldwide,” said Father Dale DeNinno, pastor of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Pleasant Hills. “Our campaign was not just about a collection of money, but a renewal in the Spirit.”

Saint Elizabeth parishioners mobilized to support the initiative. About 80 volunteers asked fellow parishioners for pledges, manned the phones and shared their successes at report meetings. The parish raised 103 percent of their target.

The Campaign is designed to meet extraordinary needs by investing in the life of our Church—to sustain and strengthen parishes, invigorate evangelization, revitalize sacramental life, support education and formation in the faith, train pastoral and lay leaders, and serve the poor and marginalized.

“We proudly call ourselves Catholic, the universal Church that Christ founded on the shoulders of the apostles,” said Dr. Patrick Joyce, Director of Stewardship for the diocese. “Our responsibility as disciples is to accept this gift of faith and spread the good news.

“We receive the precious sacraments through our parish. But our responsibility for the faith and the Church is to all parts of the community beyond our parish walls, into the county, our diocese, and well beyond.”

Pope Francis’ message to the bishops could have been written for the Campaign.

“We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities when so many people are waiting for the Gospel,” Francis said in his homily. “It’s not enough simply to open the door in welcome, but we must go out through that door to seek and meet the people.

“Let us courageously look to pastoral needs, beginning with the outskirts, with those who are farthest away, with those who do not usually go to church,” the Holy Father stated. “They, too, are invited to the table of the Lord.”

The diocesan-wide ministries and programs receiving support through the Campaign include evangelization programs, need-based tuition grants for Catholic schools, religious education, technology for secondary schools, Catholic communications, seminarian formation, and support for senior and retired priests.

Our Campaign for The Church Alive!, taking place in the 200 parishes of our diocese in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties also supports the work of Catholic Charities, providing special funding for programs such as emergency financial aid, support for single mothers in need, and the Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center.

“The five essential elements of Bishop Zubik’s Pastoral letter, The Church Alive!, provided the structure for the plan,” Dr. Joyce said. “Eucharist. Evangelization. Catechesis. Formation. Stewardship. This Campaign is about the mission.”

Deacon Joe Compomizzi, pastoral associate at Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, describes Our Campaign for The Church Alive! as faith in action.

“It is the witness of the Spirit igniting the fire and seeing it spread through our congregation,” said Deacon Compomizzi. “The campaign has provided an opportunity for parishioners to talk to one another about their faith and get to know each other. It is a foretaste of the abundance of God.

“They have embraced their baptismal calling—they heard, they believed, and they went forth.”