A Message from Bishop Malloy:

January 2024

Dear Friends in Christ,

Your prayerful consideration of this year’s 2024 National Appeal in the Diocese of Rockford is appreciated. Taking place January 13-14, this annual collection is an opportunity to support local and national efforts to share the Gospel. In the Diocese of Rockford, we combine the needs of the local and universal Church into three separate appeals held throughout the year. The National Appeal, in January, is the first of these in 2024. This appeal directly benefits the Catholic elementary schools throughout the diocese, which prepare our future families to keep the faith. Appeal funding also supports the retired priests’ pension program for our 38 retired diocesan priests, many of whom still faithfully serve our parishes.

Also included in the National Appeal is the Retirement Fund for Religious. Donations directed toward this fund help provide medications, nursing assistance, and other necessities for the more than 25,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests living in the United States. The Benedictines of Marmion Abbey and the Congregation of the Resurrection both have had a presence in our own diocese and have benefited from this assistance.

Some funds from the National Appeal are used by The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. to support its students and to conduct research initiatives and training programs, such as the Master’s program the university offers in Ecclesial Administration and Management, a separate credentialing program for campus ministers, and The Catholic Project – an initiative that brings together clergy and laity to address the challenges of the Church in the United States.

The Catholic Communication Campaign and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development also receive funding through our combined appeal effort. Locally, the communication campaign helps us share the Gospel through televised Catholic Masses and “Top O’ the Morning” weekday broadcasts, periodic livestreamed Masses from the Cathedral of St. Peter, Be Reconciled Day, and other diocesan communications projects. Half of all collected funds for the Catholic Communication Campaign remain in our diocese. Local support is also received from donations to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Twenty-five percent of donations to CCHD stay in our diocese to support local anti-poverty projects.

Thank you for your support of the 2024 National Appeal.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend David J. Malloy
Bishop of Rockford

The National Appeal Supports:

RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS (RFR)

This annual appeal benefits over 25,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests—women and men who have consecrated their lives to serving God and the Church.

For most of their lives, religious men and women worked for small stipends and room and board. There were no 401(k) plans or pensions. Many religious communities struggle to provide for aging members. Rising healthcare costs and decreased income compound the struggle to provide adequate attention to these men and women who gave their lives to the faith. Your gift helps provide this needed care, and more. Using our contributions, religious congregations are implementing long-range retirement strategies, even as they continue to serve the People of God. With your help, the Diocese distributed $137,020 last year.

retiredreligious.org

CATHOLIC COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN (CCC)

Through the internet, television, radio or newspapers, the Catholic Church embraces technologies, old and new, to spread the Gospel message. The Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) supports Catholic media projects in our Diocese and all over the United States. With your help, the Diocese distributed $117,889 last year.

usccb.org

CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (CCHD)

The Collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) works to interrupt the root causes of poverty across the United States through grants to communitybased groups who create jobs, improve education, and strengthen neighborhoods. Twenty-five percent of the CCHD collection stays in the Rockford Diocese to fund local anti-poverty projects. Thanks to your gifts, the Diocese distributed $20,498 last year.

usccb.org/cchd

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA (CUA)

The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. has served the Church, its students, and the nation since its establishment in 1887. CUA offers 5,700 students per year an exceptional Catholic education that is grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition. Every dollar given directly supports financial assistance for students from dioceses across the country. With your help, the Diocese distributed $7,484 last year.

engage.catholic.edu/giving/how-give/national-collection

CATHOLIC SCHOOL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE DIOCESE OF ROCKFORD

This part of the appeal provides a special way for you to assist the Diocese of Rockford to support schools that have operating deficits and need help to become and remain financially viable. Your support through prayer and donations help our underprivileged schools to continue to provide quality academic education along with religious and moral formation. Thanks to your generous gifts, $70,000 was distributed last year to needy schools in our Diocese.

rockforddiocese.org/donate/

ROCKFORD DIOCESAN PRIESTS’ PENSION

After devoting their lives to bringing people closer to Christ, in retirement our priests continue to serve as spiritual leaders, counselors, ministers to the sick and much more. With gratitude for their years of faithful ministry, the diocese has a Priests’ Pension Plan to support our 38 current retired priests and those that will retire in the future.

Rev. Msgr. P. William McDonnell has served our Diocese for nearly 60 years. Along with all his service as a priest and pastor of the diocese, he also completed a three-year commitment as the chaplain at the Pontifical North American Seminary in Rome. We thank you, Msgr. McDonnell, and all our priests for your continued faithful service in retirement. Last year, the faithful of our Diocese contributed $139,139.

rockforddiocese.org/donate