Giving is up in the diocese

Vincentian Father Mark Pranaitis, diocesan director of stewardship and development, gives a nice response to a recent Gazette article that says charitable giving to religious organizations is down. Here's Father Mark's letter:

The Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs has a different experience to report than the general decline in giving to religious organizations presented in The Gazette’s Feb. 23 report, “Where has all the giving gone?” From 2000 to the present, weekly offertory (in all 44 parishes and mission churches of the diocese) has increased from $15.8 million to more than $19.6 million. At the same time, the annual appeal, begun in 2004, has generated more than $8 million.

Additionally, Catholic Charities, a legally separate organization, reported being surprised by the overwhelming generosity of its donors in the past year. While individual parishioners come and go, choose to give to other charities, and national and local economies can rise and fall, the overall outlook for Catholic parishes, the diocese, and other Catholic organizations seems quite good — thank God.

Contrary to the article’s comments about stewardship, I find that when it is presented as a way of life, not merely a fundraising gimmick, parishioners respond to the call to be thankful, responsible, generous and accountable.

Rev. Mark Pranaitis
Director of Stewardship and Development
Diocese of Colorado Springs