DIOCESE PARISHES EDUCATION VOCATIONS PROTECTING CHILDREN OFFICES and AGENCIES GIVING
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WHERE DOES YOUR CONTRIBUTION GO?

                             $.21                 $.37                          $.42
                           Social             Pastoral                  Education &
                          Ministry            Ministry                Faith Formation

The purpose of the Bishop's Annual Appeal is to help provide funding necessary to carry out the mission of our Diocese - The ministries of the BAA fall into the following categories: Education and Faith Formation, Pastoral, and Social Services and Outreach Ministries. Some of these ministries attend to needs beyond the scope of individual parishes, and some exist for the sole purpose of assisting parishes in their mission to teach and evangelize.

EDUCATION & FAITH FORMATION MINISTRIES

Catholic School Office - The Diocese has 28 elementary schools, 10 early childhood education centers and 4 high schools with almost 12,000 students. The diocesan schools have a commitment to a quality academic education with an emphasis in spiritual growth while preparing students to become the future leaders of our church and community.

Bright Futures Fund (Central City School Fund and Honoring Family Scholarships) - The mission of the Fund is to make diocesan Catholic education affordable to any family – regardless of income or faith. The Bright Futures Fund provides financial assistance to families and schools in need. The Fund currently consists of Strong City School Fund and Honoring Family Scholarships.

Bishop Helmsing Institute - The Bishop Helmsing Institute is a program of lay formation and adult Catholic education. The Institute offers a strong program of courses for certification for laypeople working in parish or diocesan positions, and also for personal enrichment. The coursework is rooted in Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Fathers of the Church, Magisterial documents and, in particular, the documents of the Second Vatican Council.

SOCIAL SERVICES & OUTREACH MINISTRIES

Catholic Charities - Catholic Charities engages the community in providing compassionate social services and advocacy. They serve people of all backgrounds through Children & Family Services, Mental Health Services, Education & Training, Community Services and Senior Care Services.

Human Rights Office - The Human Rights Office seeks to educate, advocate and evangelize according to the social teachings of the Church. In addition to serving as a resource to parishes and schools the Office works collaboratively with Catholic Charities, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Relief Service, MO Catholic Conference, US Conference of Catholic Bishops on anti-poverty efforts, peace building and other social issues both domestic and overseas.

Parish Based Ministry - Money raised through the BAA is returned to parishes with limited budgets to implement or enhance their school of religion, RCIA programs, food pantries and emergency assistance centers, the growing Hispanic needs in our parishes and many other programs and ministries.

PASTORAL MINISTRIES

Family Life Office - The Family Life Office administers programs and services designed to foster the development of the laity at the parish level in the areas of marriage and remarriage preparation, marriage enrichment; natural family planning; children, adolescent and adult grief support; and troubled marriage support.

Respect Life - The Respect Life Office promotes the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death, by addressing issues such as abortion and post-abortion healing, embryonic stem cell research and human cloning, capital punishment, and euthanasia. Diocesan programs include an annual pilgrimage to the March for Life in Washington, D.C., campaigns to protect embryos from destructive research, Right S.T.A.R.T. (Students Tackling Abortion Realities Today), Project Rachel, and many more. The Respect Life Office supports a network of parish pro-life coordinators and committees, whose work is crucial to building a culture of life.

Vocation Office - The Vocation Office reaches out to prospective priests and assists with discernment. Through a variety of retreats, special study opportunities, and mentoring, the staff assists candidates in making sure religious life is the correct choice. Encourages Catholics throughout the diocese to encourage and invite others to consider a vocation to priesthood and religious life.

Office for Consecrated Life - The Office of Consecrated Life reaches out to prospective women seeking to enter a religious community to become a nun. They often work with the Vocation Office in helping women make sure religious life is the correct choice. Encourages Catholics throughout the diocese to encourage and invite others to consider religious life.

Worship Office - The Office of Worship serves the Diocese by planning and conducting ministry formation sessions for cantors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, and ministers to the sick and homebound (in collaboration with the Pastoral Care Coordinating Committee), publishing a liturgical music newsletter, serving as consultant to parishes in the church building or renovation process, and assisting other diocesan offices when their concerns intersect with the liturgy. They are also responsible for major diocesan liturgical celebrations such as Rite of Election, Chrism Mass, Golden Wedding Anniversary, and Ordinations

Diaconate Program - The Permanent Diaconate Office facilitates the formation, training and certification of all deacons in our Diocese. The presence of deacons enhances the life of parishes and provides additional ministers to support pastoral care

Hispanic Ministry - Hispanic Ministry Office reaches out to and initiates programs for the growing Hispanic population of the Diocese. Through liturgies, special celebrations unique to the Hispanic culture, and language-relevant programming, the Diocese attends to the needs of the Hispanic community.

Young Adult and Campus Ministry - Catholic campus ministry centers are staffed at Central Missouri State, Missouri Western State, Northwest Missouri State and University of Missouri at Kansas City, reaching out to young Catholics living away from home for the first time. In addition, the office works to build community, provide service opportunities, and nurtures the faith of the newly independent young people in their first careers, new relationships, and early-married lives.

Priestly Life and Ministry - Priestly Life and Ministry provides continuous support to the growth and well-being of our diocesan priests.

Office of Youth Ministry - The Office of Youth Ministry serves the needs of middle school and high school teens in the parishes, schools and various other youth serving organizations, as well as the adults who minister to/with them throughout the diocese.

Parish Rebates - Remember, that 50% of all gifts received above a parish's target goal are returned to the parish for their use.