For the Universal Church
Download 2022 English Flyer (PDF)
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A Message from Bishop Malloy:
October 2022
Dear Friends in Christ,
Every Christian is called to be a missionary – to bear witness to Christ. Our very Church has a mission of evangelization. We all share this mission as baptized Catholics, and it is a mission given to us by the resurrected Christ.
In the Acts of the Apostles we see the apostles and the first disciples travelling to “the ends of the Earth” to proclaim the Gospel. Like these fervent and brave men and women, we are urged to live the mission of Christ in our daily lives, being fueled by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to bear witness to our faith. It may not always be easy to share our faith, but we do this to answer our baptismal call, and we are not alone. Responding to this
call, however, can be more challenging for others, especially for our neighbors in Latin America and Africa, where resources are often limited.
Your support of our annual Mission Appeal helps our brothers and sisters in Christ continue to share the vital Gospel message of salvation, both in our own country, and abroad. We must move forward as a Church, as Pope Francis says, “to testify to all the love of Christ.”
Our annual Mission Appeal is the last of the three combined appeals held in our diocese throughout the year (the National Appeal is in January, and the International Appeal is in March). This Mission Appeal supports several important efforts in the Church in one combined collection. Instead of separate parish collections for World Mission Sunday; Black and Indian and Catholic Home Missions in the United States; the Church in Africa; the Church in Latin America; and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, this one opportunity allows you to support them, as well as the Rockford Diocesan Priests’ Pension and our needy Catholic elementary schools, all at once.
Pope Francis says that “mission is carried out together, not individually.” Our generous response to this Mission appeal will help ensure that our brothers and sisters in the United States and abroad will have access to resources that will help build the Church. Your gift makes it possible for you and all of today’s disciples to evangelize and share the deep love Christ has for all of us.
Thank you for your support of this appeal!
Most Reverend David J. Malloy
Bishop of Rockford
The Mission Appeal Supports:
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY
World Mission Sunday is a unique, global effort for the entire Church to provide for the building up of over one thousand local churches in Asia and Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe. Through the work and witness of these churches to Christ, the poor receive practical help and experience God’s love and mercy, His hope and peace. With your help, last year the Diocese distributed $46,263.
missio.org
BLACK AND INDIAN MISSION COLLECTION
The Black and Indian Mission Collection (BIMC) provides helpful grants to dioceses across the country to operate schools, parishes, and other missionary services that build the Body of Christ in Native American, Alaska Native, and Black Catholic communities. With your help, last year the Diocese distributed $29,572.
blackandindianmission.org
THE CATHOLIC HOME MISSIONS
The Catholic Home Missions Appeal funds important pastoral projects in our poorer dioceses, where there are not enough resources to provide evangelization, religious education, and ministry training to their faithful. More than 40% of dioceses in the United States are considered home missions. With your help, last year the Diocese distributed $29,572.
usccb.org
CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FINANCIAL SUPPORT
This part of the appeal is a special way for you to assist the Diocese of Rockford in supporting schools that have operating deficits and need your help to become financially viable. Thanks to your generous gifts, we gave $95,000 to needy schools in our Diocese last year!
rockforddiocese.org/donate
MEMBERSHIP IN THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH (SPF)
Would you consider making an extra special commitment to the missionary work of the Church as a member of the Propagation of the Faith? As a member, you will pray daily for the Church’s missionary work, offer your personal cross in union with the suffering of Christ for the redemption of unknown men and women, and donate financially whenever you can during the year.
By designating this appeal on the Mission Appeal envelope, your name and address will be sent to the National SPF Office. Last year $5,121 was contributed.
propfaith.net/onefamilyinmission/default.aspx
THE CHURCH IN LATIN AMERICA
Religious sisters and nuns serving in Latin America are among those supported by this appeal. They are the very heart of the Church. By supporting their material and educational needs, you help them give their gifts of selfless prayer and service to the Church and to the entire world. Your generosity ensures that their mission to children and entire families continues into the future. From this collection, $21,943 was sent to the US Bishops’ Office for Latin America last year.
usccb.org/latinamerica
THE CHURCH IN AFRICA
This appeal supports the Church in African countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe.
The Church in Africa is growing rapidly, but often there are not enough local resources to provide pastoral care for all the communities. The Church in this part of the world needs your help to ensure that all the faithful have access to resources to help them grow in the faith. With your help, last year the Diocese distributed $23,236.
www.usccb.org/committees/church-africa
ROCKFORD DIOCESAN PRIESTS’ PENSION
After devoting their lives to bringing people closer to Christ, priests continue to serve as spiritual leaders, n retirement our i more. With gratitude counselors, ministers to the sick and much for their years of faithful ministry, the Diocese has a Priests’ Plan to support our 40 currently retired priests and those Pension that will retire in the future.
Father Timothy Piasecki was ordained 49 years ago and retired in June.
He says, “God has never failed to grace me wherever I have been sent,
from DeKalb to Aurora, from Rockford and Belvidere to Montero, Peru.
At all times and in all places, God has provided ‘marvelous comrades,’
coworkers in service of the Gospel. As I begin retirement I glance back
and see quite clearly God’s ‘fingerprints’ everywhere.” We thank you,
Father Piasecki, and all our priests for your continued faithful service in
retirement. Last year, the faithful of our Diocese contributed $226,672.
rockforddiocese.org/donate
