Last year, the House of Charity – Bishop’s Annual Appeal raised $6.4 million from faithful across the 63 participating parishes – funding that provided much-needed support to local ministries across the Diocese of Camden.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the annual initiative, which will carry a new name – the South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal. In-pew solicitation will take place in most parishes during the weekend of Feb. 11-12. The theme of this year’s appeal is “For the Life of the World,” which echoes the theme of the National Eucharistic Renewal currently underway.
“In every way, the work of our ministries emanates from the Eucharist,” Bishop Dennis Sullivan said in the 2023 South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal video, which is available at youtube.com/camdendiocese.
Andrew Goos, associate director of the diocesan Office of Development, said, “The annual South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal raises the funding needed to sustain numerous ministries throughout our local region. From the perspective of the Office of Development and Church administration, the annual appeal is an effective and efficient approach to fundraising for several purposes with one yearly campaign. For the supported ministries, it provides the resources needed to support and sustain their missions. Finally, for contributors, the annual appeal is an opportunity to participate in the many ministries of our local Church through their yearly support.”
The South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal traces its roots to 1964. Since 2002, the campaign has raised more than $150 million through the support of parishioners and faithful across the Diocese.
As the scope of the campaign has grown, diocesan leaders have announced its new name to better reflect its focus on supporting a variety of ministries. The rebranding is also intended to emphasize the importance of the South Jersey regional community in this annual effort, and to distinguish the appeal from one of its prominent beneficiaries, Catholic Charities, which is a separate organization that provides social services to the six counties in the region.
As it has for done for more than 50 years, every dollar donated to the appeal continues to support ministries, and cannot be used for other purposes. The campaign is managed by the diocesan Office of Development and is carried out by pastors and volunteer teams in parishes throughout South Jersey.
One of those volunteers is Bart Mueller, a member of Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Hadden Township, who got involved in last year’s appeal along with his wife. Mueller has a leadership role on the parish committee and works closely with Father Mark Matthias throughout the initiative.
Mueller said he has seen the appeal impact many ministries, especially a service-learning program at Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, and the opportunities it provides for students to become more involved in their community.
“It is [a program] very close to us. It is good to nurture [it] and make sure that our granddaughters in Catholic school have the same opportunity,” he said. Supporting programs like these “comes back four, five, six times for sure.”
Judy Uber, a member of the Parish of the Holy Cross, Bridgeton, is also a volunteer for the appeal in her parish. She has seen the impact of funds that are donated to the campaign, and is moved by the generosity of faithful there. “It is just amazing how people are givers,” she said.
Jason Smith is a member of Saint Simon Stock Parish, Berlin, and has been a volunteer with the annual appeal for seven years. He assists by having individual conversations with fellow parishioners about the appeal, and spends time after Masses speaking about it and answering questions.
“One of the programs that supports our parish directly is VITALity,” said Smith, who is the parish finance chairman. He said the annual appeal has supported the parish’s senior ministry: “Parishioners can see the money being used immediately.”
Smith said that the senior ministry has not only helped to support those who might have previously lived a more isolated life, but that they have brought loved ones back to the faith as a result.
“They have brought their children and grandchildren back to church with them,” he said.
Smith encourages faithful to pray and discern on supporting or becoming involved in the appeal – and to see the impact it has in their parish community.
“Come out and see the difference that it has [made], and the positive effects it has brought to people’s lives,” he said.
For more information about the South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal, visit camdendiocese.org/sjcma.
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