By Catholic News Service
PITTSBURGH — The response to the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s first fundraising campaign in its 172-year history “shows that our people love their faith and are willing to make sacrifices for it,” said Bishop David A. Zubik.
More than 44,000 donors representing about 130,000 Catholics in 200 parishes across the six-county diocese have pledged gifts to “Our Campaign for The Church Alive!” that total more than $230 million, with close to $63 million collected so far. The goal of the campaign was $125 million.
“I rejoice in the tremendous commitment to living and spreading the Gospel that these gifts represent,” Bishop Zubik said in a Jan. 25 statement announcing the response to the campaign.
Parishioners were invited to take part in the campaign and help support 17 priorities across the diocese, which include evangelizing, revitalizing sacramental life, supporting education, training clergy and lay leaders, and serving the poor and marginalized.
According to a diocesan news release, more than 70 percent of campaign funds will directly or indirectly benefit parishes. The initial target was $50 million for parishes; they expect to receive about $96 million.
The release said that diocesan-wide programs and ministries will receive about $15 million more than the original target of $75 million.
None of the funds is designated for regular operating expenses of parishes or the diocese, it said.
