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The Progress Annual Ministry Appeal is the annual fundraising campaign that supports the day-to-day operations of ministries and services with our Diocese. Money raised through Progress represents 40% of all operating funds supporting the pastoral, spiritual, educational, and human service programs that benefit thousands of individuals throughout the 10 counties of the Diocese of El Paso.
The Progress Annual Ministry Appeal helps fund 15 Diocesan ministries that provide outreach, formation, evangelization, education, and advocacy.
Provides spiritual, academic, and pastoral formation for college students studying to become priests at our diocesan house of priestly formation and at major seminaries outside of El Paso as they complete their studies.
Serves the Diocese in the selection and formation of candidates and the ongoing supervision of ordained deacons.
Addresses the increasing need for diocesan priests and religious vocations by sponsoring programs throughout the diocese that foster and nurture vocations.
Serves the students, faculty, and staff at the University of Texas at El Paso and at Sul Ross State University in Alpine in their lifelong journeys for deeper faith.
Provides assistance to the poor and troubled in the Diocese of El Paso through professional counseling programs offered on a sliding scale fee basis
Offers free or low-cost legal services to eligible foreign-born individuals who wish to immigrate to or become citizens of the United States and engages in public advocacy, training, and community outreach to advance the fair treatment and protect the rights of immigrants and refugees.
Conducts numerous diocesan-wide programs that strengthen and support families including the FOCCUS Program, Sponsor Couples, and Natural Family Planning and provides training, certification, and resources for pastors and parish family life ministers.
Promotes Catholic social teaching and fosters the social mission of the Church by serving as a resource to parishes to develop and maintain parish efforts which link direct service, advocacy, action and empowerment toward concerns of local, national, and global justice.
The Religious Formation Ministry oversees parish catechetical programs by providing training, curriculum, and certification for parish catechists as well as implementing background checks for adults working with children in formation. The Religious Formation Ministry also oversees West Texas and the nine-county rural area of the Diocese through youth, evangelization, and religious formation programs for rural parishes and missions.
Oversees the 11 Catholic schools in El Paso with more than 2,260 students and 200 teachers.
Provides for the religious formation of more than 2,500 laity each year and certifies parish ministers for service in their churches.
Plans Diocesan liturgies, assists the Bishop in implementing Diocesan policies regarding worship, and serves as a resource to parishes and parish liturgy committees concerning all liturgical matters.
Publishes the Rio Grande Catholic newspaper on a monthly basis which goes out to more than 25,000 Catholic families, operates The Bridge radio station, and provides information on Diocesan activities to newspapers, radio stations, and television stations throughout the 10 counties of the Diocese.
Serves the Tigua Indians at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church through preparation for religious events and the formation of lay ministers
Provides training and formation opportunities for youth, young adults, and adults in ministry with young people and conducts programs and activities mean to integrate youth and young adults into the life, mission, and work of the Church.
The Catholic Foundation annually allocates funds collected through the Progress Annual Ministry Appeal to ministries and parishes. In 2023 a total of 1,407,073 was received in payments from generous donors for the 2023 Progress Annual Ministry Appeal. The Catholic Foundation awarded over $1,025,000 in grants to ministries and allocated $85,500 to parishes as Parish Share and $296,573 for support programs and administrative costs for the appeal.
Your parish/mission and all people of the diocese benefit from the Progress Annual Ministry Appeal through the services and programs provided by the diocesan ministries it supports. In addition, every parish in the diocese is assigned a goal. Parish goals are apportioned by Sunday and Holy Day Collections. All parishes/missions that exceed their goal during the year will receive 50% of the amount paid over the goal for their parish.
The Progress Annual Ministry Appeal is the only diocesan-wide appeal that serves the needs of our entire community beyond the boundaries of any single parish.
Yes! Your parish/mission and all people of the diocese benefit from the Progress Annual Ministry Appeal through the services and programs provided by the diocesan ministries it supports. All parishes/missions that exceed their goal during the year will receive 50% of the amount paid over the goal for their parish.
No one can tell you how much to give. Your decision will depend on your own financial circumstances, your understanding of the Progress Annual Ministry Appeal, and the way you live out your faith. We only ask that you prayerfully discern and consider a gift in proportion to your means. We do provide suggested gifts based on annual household incomes. A good guide is 1% of your annual income. If you are a returning donor, however, we ask that you give a little more than the previous year.
Absolutely. Every gift is important — and necessary — if your parish and diocese are to continue to serve in an effective manner. You also may be able to give more than you think. Even smaller contributions pledged over time can result in a significant gift. For example, $20 a month is a contribution of $240 a year. Monthly reminders are sent automatically for all pledges (except those paid by credit card or automatic debit). Monthly reminders can now be sent through email rather than regular mail.
Each donor is asked to complete a pledge card so their gift will be appropriately recorded and acknowledged. The pledge card indicates, made in good faith, your intent to give.
Yes. You may set up a direct debit on your checking or savings account on your pledge card. Just follow the directions on the card.
Yes. The Annual Ministry Appeal qualifies for many corporate matching gift programs. Contact your employer for more information on matching gift programs. Please let us know as soon as possible if your gift is eligible for a matching gift and we will help you process any required forms. We will also acknowledge your employer in our annual report.
Receipts for income tax purposes acknowledging all contributions to the Catholic Foundation are mailed to donors each January.
Approximately 20% of Catholic Foundation funds are spent on the annual administration of the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso. This covers all costs associated with the Progress Annual Ministry Appeal, including marketing materials, management, training, salaries, direct mail, and general costs, as well as a portion of the expenses of the Grants Development Program and the Stewardship Program, both of which support Diocesan ministries, schools, and parishes.
Unanticipated events or situations can occur. If financial circumstances change, a donor may contact the Catholic Foundation anytime to discuss.
We invite you to contact us by phone at (915) 872-8412 or by sending an email to the Annual Appeal Director, Tina Edwards-Milam at tedwards-milam@catholicfoundationelpaso.org with any questions you may have about the Annual Ministry Appeal or the ministries it supports. We also welcome visits to the Catholic Foundation located at the Diocese of El Paso Catholic Pastoral Center, 499 St. Matthews Street, Building G.