The firstfruits are being harvested in parishes across the Diocese of Pittsburgh, as Our Campaign for The Church Alive! gears up for 2014.
Thanks to the generosity of the faithful, stained glass windows and church organs already have been repaired, roofs replaced, and new technology will bring the Mass to thousands more people.
Sacrificial gifts from the late Rita McGinley and others will help create live stream programming on a web site being developed for the Christian Associates cable TV channel for viewing across our diocese and beyond. Currently, daily Masses at St. Paul Cathedral and St. Mary of Mercy Parish that are broadcast to the elderly, disabled and others can be seen only in the City of Pittsburgh on Comcast Channel 95.
“Rita was a most generous woman. I’m not talking about the size of her gifts, but the size of her heart,” Bishop David Zubik said. “She always asked, ‘What’s the need? Can I help?’”
The investments are part of a historic $125 million capital and endowment campaign in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties.
The initiative will help address the urgent needs 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.
Fr. Richard Infante, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Scott Township, has replaced roofs on two of the six buildings. Because donors raised 153 percent of their target, the parish also will be able to install a new fire alarm system in the school, energy efficient lighting and air conditioning in the church, and eventually, new school windows.
“We are thrilled to be able to make these improvements,” Fr. Infante said. “It’s our chance to secure the future.”
At St. Mark Parish in Liberty and Port Vue, the concrete outside the buildings was replaced and other infrastructure improvements made, according to Fr. Daniel Straughn. Fortunately, the organs only needed refurbishing, not replacement. A priority in the near future is a scholarship fund for the Mon Yough Catholic School and parish religious education.
Stained glass windows are being restored at St. Peter Parish on Pittsburgh’s North Side and St. Athanasius in West View. Our Lady of Joy Parish in Holiday Park repaired the large picture window behind the altar and replaced five sections of the roof.
“It makes me feel good that we really accomplished something in the campaign,” Fr. Al Zapf, pastor of Our Lady of Joy said. “Our parishioners came through.” Next—fixing ceilings damaged by water, plastering the kitchen, installing a new boiler and repaving the parking lot.
At St. Peter Parish, Fr. Vincent Zidek is having the stained glass windows restored in the 125 year old church. The project is scheduled for completion by Christmas. The next job involves repairing mortar joints and cleaning, caulking and sealing the stone and brick at St. Peter and Our Lady Queen of Peace churches.
Our Campaign for The Church Alive! is focused on the parishes. For every dollar raised, 40 cents stays in the parish to fund its locally determined priorities. The remaining 60 percent will support ministries and programs benefiting the entire Church of Pittsburgh.
When a parish exceeds its target it receives 60 cents of every dollar raised over the target, and 40 percent is invested across the diocese. Taking into account the direct and indirect benefits of the campaign, nearly 70 percent of all funds will positively impact parishes.
To date, campaigns have concluded in 51 parishes and are underway in another 59 of the 200 parishes in our diocese. The remaining parishes are preparing for their campaigns next year.
The clergy have been especially supportive, with sacrificial pledges of $3.1 million on a target of $500,000. Across our diocese, more than 12,000 donors have made commitments to date.
All funds are being overseen and allocated by an independent non-profit charitable corporation to ensure that donations are spent according to the cases for support developed by our diocese and each parish.
The diocesan-wide ministries and programs receiving support include need-based tuition grants for Catholic schools, parish religious education, seminarian formation, support for retired and senior priests, evangelization, communications, Catholic Charities, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School, and technology for secondary schools.
