Parishes, schools and ministries throughout the Diocese of Camden are expressing gratitude for the nearly $70,000 raised during the #iGiveCatholic campaign overseen by the diocesan Office of Development in November.
“We have great, generous parishioners. Thank God they are very supportive,” said Father Edward Kennedy, pastor of Saint Clare of Assisi Parish, Swedesboro, which raised $25,245 for renovations to meeting rooms in the parish hall and the kitchen, as well as a project to install a ramp for those with mobility issues.
“When you can show parishioners where the money is going … and they see that you’re maintaining physical structures, it’s easy for them to get behind it [the campaign],” he said. “Our hall is the biggest meeting space we have. It’s now not handicap accessible. So the need is there.”
On Nov. 28 – and in the early giving weeks beforehand – 460 donors contributed to #iGiveCatholic, the U.S. Catholic Church’s national day of giving that coincides with the global day of generosity known as Giving Tuesday. On Giving Tuesday, more than $300,000 was raised throughout the Diocese of Camden, $68,812 of which was raised through #iGiveCatholic. The remainder was raised through diocesan high schools’ individual giving day campaigns.
Each donation was specifically made to one of the 31 participating parishes, schools and ministries. Gifts will support important programs and projects of those organizations.
“From Cape May to Camden, nearly 500 donors participated. The need was expressed and people responded. It’s encouraging to see that was a trend across the Diocese,” said Stacy Napolitano, director of the Diocese’s Office of Development.
Though last year’s campaign raised about $15,000 in additional funds, Napolitano said she was pleased with the number of donors. “We had almost the same number of donations as last year, just smaller gift amounts. I’m thinking the economy – from rising grocery prices to interest rates – had to play a part in the results.”
That said, some organizations “hit it out of the ballpark this year,” she said, crediting the intensity in which staff promoted the campaign. For example, first-time participant Saint John Neumann Parish, North Cape May, raised close to $5,000 for projects such as improving the parish life center and renovating office space for the Latino ministry.
Parish business manager Barbara Lamoureux spent extra time setting up the parish’s #iGiveCatholic platform, communicating with the community and utilizing tips offered by the Office of Development.
“She really took to heart the campaign and all of the sample template emails, social media messages and more that were sent out to the schools, parishes and ministries,” Napolitano said.
Father James King, parish pastor, agreed. “I’m extremely grateful to the parishioners for how generously they responded to our #iGiveCatholic campaign and to Barbara for the work she did putting the program together.”
Similarly, Guardian Angels Regional School, which has campuses in Gibbstown, Paulsboro and Swedesboro, raised more than $8,000 to improve a myriad of academic resources. Staff there also utilized numerous tools to promote their campaign, including social media and written reminders.
“Each year, we are blessed with great success in our Giving Tuesday campaign, as well as our other fundraisers. I contribute a lot of this success with building relationships with our communities – within and outside of our schools,” said Sister Jerilyn Einstein, FMIJ, principal.
“Our donors and community members witness the kindness, and the strong and faith-filled character, that our children exhibit. The students are our best marketing tool!” she added.
Saint Bridget University Parish, Glassboro, also put intentional effort into promoting #iGiveCatholic on social media and in the church bulletin in the weeks leading up to Giving Tuesday. The parish pastor spoke about the campaign from the pulpit, and knowing that many parishioners like to give with cash or check, donation envelopes were handed out after each Mass.
Parishioner Kari Janisse, who is also the Catholic campus minister at Rowan University in Glassboro, said that the service and ministry work in which students have been involved was highlighted in the campaign. The Newman Club is a ministry of the parish.
“Being that the number of active students almost doubled in the past two years, the funding will help defray the costs of serving the students. This is through the everyday funds of upkeep at the house, food, retreat expenses and ministry funding. We are grateful to the parishioners, Rowan alumni and local supporters to our ministry!”
In all, more than 40 donors gave $2,477 total, which Napolitano said she found encouraging. Last year, only three donors participated in the parish’s campaign, giving about $250.
In addition to funds raised, the parish, school and ministry with the highest number of donors will be receiving a congratulatory boost from the Office of Development and South Jersey Scholarship Fund. Saint Clare of Assisi Parish (135 donors) and Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Blessed Edmund Center, Cherry Hill (37 donors), will each receive $500 from the diocesan office. Guardian Angels Regional School (50 donors) will receive $1,000 from the SJSF to be used for tuition assistance.
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