Greensburg Diocese 2019 Lenten Appeal generates almost $5 million for diocese, parishes

Stephen Huba
Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 4:11 p.m. | Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 4:11 p.m.

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The Diocese of Greensburg reported its 2019 Lenten Appeal campaign raised almost $5 million to be shared by the diocese and its parishes.

The latest Diocesan Lenten Appeal came in under the 2018 amount but still in keeping with recent trends, according to the Diocese of Greensburg.

Totals for the 2019 appeal, one of three main sources of revenue for the diocese, were reported this monthin the diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Accent.

Pledges from the diocese’s 78 parishes totalled $4.9 million — $3.4 million of which will go to the diocese’s central office to fund various diocesan ministries and expenses, and $1.4 million of which will be returned to the parishes to fund local projects.

Each year, parishes in the four-county diocese are asked to raise a specific amount for the appeal. Any money raised over that amount goes to the parishes for capital improvements or other local needs.

In 2019, each parish’s diocesan target remained the same as the previous year, spokesman Jerry Zufelt said.

“The diocese was very pleased with the final results of the 2019 (appeal),” Zufelt said.

The 2018 appeal raised a record $5.2 million, exceeding the $4.9 million goal.

The annual appeal has been in existence, under different names, for 40 years. It has been called the Diocesan Lenten Appeal since 2004.

The diocese sets a goal for each parish based on its weekly giving levels. So, a large parish such as Immaculate Conception in Irwin, had a 2019 target of $130,823, whereas a small parish such as Seven Dolors in Yukon had a target of $22,192.

Both parishes exceeded their goals, as did most parishes. The three parishes that did not reach their goals still came close, Zufelt said.

The diocese received gifts from almost 17,000 individuals and families in 2019. The average gift was $289, and the overall participation rate was a “healthy” 34.1%, Zufelt said.

“We are very proud of our parishes and the Pastoral Center staff for working together to produce these kinds of results,” Director of Development Mike Lucotch told The Accent. “Bishop (Edward C.) Malesic and I extend our appreciation to everyone who helped make last year’s appeal such a success.”

The 2020 appeal will kick off on the weekend of the first Sunday of Lent (Feb. 29-March 1), Zufelt said.