Something special is taking place in Our Campaign for The Church Alive! that goes beyond the important work of raising funds for extraordinary needs across our diocese.
Father Jim Murphy has witnessed it in Butler. So has Father Frank Almade in New Castle, Father Paul Grunebach in Fredericktown/ Marianna, along with dozens of their brother priests.
Parish volunteers joyfully describe it, leaders like Don DiGirolamo in Blawnox/Harmar, Amy Wertz in Green Tree, Joe and Carol Dello Stritto of Holiday Park and John Mitchell in Pittsburgh’s East End.
It’s called Discipleship.
“The campaign is not just about fund raising,” said Father Murphy, pastor of Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen Parish in Butler. “It allows you to get close to your people and give your leaders encouragement. In a way, they’re disciples, reaching out to others.”
“After a few visits with parishioners, I came to see our conversations as a form of evangelization,” said Father Almade, pastor of four parishes in New Castle. “The people of Saint Vitus and Saint Vincent de Paul shared some of their faith lives. I listened to their struggles and witnessed their virtues. We were both able to express our love for the Church.”
In an interview shortly after the campaign was formally launched, Bishop David Zubik described the spiritual aspect of this initiative.
“Our Campaign for The Church Alive! is an opportunity for us to respond to the trust that Jesus gave to his disciples, and all of us who are his disciples now, to prove to the world how much God is alive and how much he wants to reach out to us,” Bishop Zubik said. “This campaign is an opportunity to once again reach out through each of us with the hands, the heart and the face of Christ.”
Lay leader Don DiGirolamo, who chaired the campaign at his parish, St. Pio of Pietrelcina in Harmar/Blawnox, saw important benefits in addition to financial resources.
“Our parish was formed recently from the merger of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Edward parishes, and the campaign has helped us make a connection in faith,” he said. “Parishioners liked to hear the story of what we’re planning to do across our diocese and in the parish. I’m glad I got involved.”
Father Paul Grunebach, pastor of Saint Oliver Plunkett Parish in Fredericktown/Marianna, has seen his people taking pride in the parish again.
“Our Campaign for The Church Alive! has been like a booster shot,” Father Grunebach said. “There has been an increase in the number of lectors and Eucharistic ministers and generally more participation. Even the weekly offertory is up. Our parishioners have started to come alive again.”
Volunteer Amy Wertz, who is helping lead the campaign at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Green Tree, is grateful for the support of her pastor, Father Bud Murhammer. “The campaign is a huge undertaking but a great idea to help strengthen our parishes,” she said.
“In visiting with people and talking about the campaign, they got excited for us, then with us as we explained the needs in our parish and diocese,” Carol Dello Stritto said. She and husband Joe helped run the positive campaign at Our Lady of Joy Parish in Holiday Park.
Meeting with fellow parishioners and asking for gifts is something Dave Farone of Saint Vitus had never done before, but he was happy to make the sacrifice for his parish and his Catholic faith.
“I remember why I’m doing this. It’s a question of, do you love God and love your church?” he said.
John Mitchell, a member of Saint Charles Lwanga Parish in Pittsburgh’s East End, stepped forward in faith and helped to run his highly successful parish campaign. “It was astonishing. People really believe in our parish,” Mitchell said. “I hope our success will help other parishes realize they also can do it.”
