We help and serve others through the Annual Catholic Appeal not because they are Catholic, but because we are Catholic. Please consider a gift today. #CatholicSTL
ACA Committee Formation
February 1, 2023
Hello St. Patrick Parish family,
I’m reaching out because I need your help. The Lord has indeed blessed us and continues to shower his grace upon our parish. We are growing - in number of parishioners, in participation, and in faith!
When we see how much the Lord has blessed us, we need to share those blessings with others. One very important way to accomplish this is to grow in our response to the very real needs of the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA).
Through the ACA, tens of thousands are served throughout the Archdiocese. From feeding the hungry, standing up for life, forming our youth, and taking care of the elderly - just to name a few. It is such an important endeavor.
Last year, we had a few folks who came together to assist me as part of the committee. I am so grateful for their work! But now we really need to step up our game to reach our goals. We all know many hands make light work and I am in need of committee members, for certain, but I also need someone to step up as a chairperson.
Considering “All Things New”, we really need a full and vibrant committee filled with new ideas and energy so that no one person (or only a few people) bear the load alone.
Therefore, I am asking you to please consider helping on this committee. There are many jobs that will need to be done to make the Annual Catholic Appeal successful. And don’t worry, we will have a training session on how to do the jobs being asked of you.
At a very basic level, we are looking for people who can help:
- plan an evening event
- give out cards
- answer questions
- greet people
- talk to parishioners
- make phone calls
Please prayerfully consider helping us!
If we get 15-20 people, I think it would add a vibrancy that is so needed to build up this program that will strengthen our parish and so much more!
Thank you for your consideration and I thank you for all the ways in which you share your gifts and talents with the St. Patrick family already.
Please let me know if you have any questions and if you are willing to help us make the ACA a success! If you are interested, visit bit.ly/stpACA or contact Cyndi Barclay at [email protected] or 636-332-9225 ext 234.
Prayerfully yours,
Fr. Brian Fischer
Tentative: 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal pledge cards will be available in the social hall after all Masses on the weekends of April 22/23, 29/30, May 6/7.
Information below is from 2022. Check back for updates as they become available.
2022 Annual Catholic Appeal
2022 Annual Catholic Appeal pledge cards will be available in the social hall after all Masses on the weekends of May 7/8, 14/15, and 21/22.
To relieve congestion in the social hall on the weekend, parents with students in PSR and full-time school will receive their pledge cards in their Wednesday folders.
Any parishioner who has not received a pledge card and would like to give, you may:
- Stop by the parish office and fill out a pledge card or let us help you give online.
- Give online at aca.archstl.org. Click the “Donate” button. NOTE: In order to calculate pledges made by St. Patrick parishioners, under Parish to Credit, please select “Saint Patrick Parish (Wentzville) 372” in the dropdown box.
Our 2022 Challenge Goal is $139,955
Any parishioner who desires to help with the appeal, or has questions, please contact us.
Your participation, no matter how small – even a dollar, will help. Why even a dollar? Each year our parish applies for a Viability Grant from the Archdiocese funded by the ACA. In 2019, we were awarded $50,000 to help us pay down our debt. The ACA has awarded us a grant for this purpose for the past several years. All these factors help us when we are writing the grant proposal:
- Meeting our ACA Goal
- % family participation
- Increased Stewardship efforts
This is why even a small gift helps us, as it bolsters our percentage of participation.
Even though we're asking our parishioners to donate because it does directly help our parish, the ACA should be viewed as an opportunity for stewardship, engagement, and education about the Church’s shared mission. It is easy to ask, “What’s in it for us?" but one should focus on the willingness to give as Jesus did without expecting something in return. The appeal provides funding for programs that serve the greater St. Louis community's most immediate needs. Ministries include:
- Catholic education, including elementary and high schools, special education, Newman Centers, and ongoing formation for priests and deacons
- Promotion of human dignity, including help for immigrants and refugees, food pantries, and other services for the homeless and those in need and efforts to defend life, marriage, and religious liberty
- Leadership and missionary discipleship, including vocations, adult catechesis, support for religious communities, prayer and healing ministries, and communications and youth programming
Approximately 91 cents of every dollar raised goes back into the community in the form of direct services.