‘United Catholic Appeal: Christ Our Hope’ has goal of $5.7 million, will support ministries ‘in our backyard’
The image above shows the goal for the United Catholic Appeal, and how the money raised will be spent. Click the image for a larger version.
By Natalie Hoefer
In the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, we are not 147 disconnected parishes—we are nearly 225,000 Catholics united in faith and purpose.
We are farmers, like the Gaspers of Jennings County.
We are converts to the faith, like the Jenkinses of Rushville.
We are families with small children, like the Rahmans of Terre Haute.
We are transplants who now call Indiana home, like Kathy Kaler of Indianapolis.
Together, we form the fabric of the one true faith in central and southern Indiana.
And in those situations where services are too costly or burdensome for parishes to provide, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis steps in, with the help of money raised by the “United Catholic Appeal: Christ Our Hope” annual campaign.
With assistance from appeal funds, the archdiocese is able to provide education and care for priests; provide pregnancy centers, emergency shelters and disaster relief; and educate the poor and evangelize youth, young adults and adults.
Nov. 2-3 is intention weekend, and the $5.7 million goal of this year’s appeal will require the united effort of each Catholic in central and southern Indiana.
“I’m grateful for all of the people of our archdiocese and for the sacrifices they have made to further the mission of Christ throughout central and southern Indiana,” said Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin. “As we approach intention weekend for the United Catholic Appeal, I ask everyone to join me in prayerfully considering how we can use our time, talent and treasure to be the Church that Christ is calling us to be in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
“The Lord is opening doors for us to be an instrument of evangelization, but it’s up to us to respond. I’d like to thank everyone in advance for their commitment and generosity.”
Here are the stories of the Gaspers, Jenkinses, Rahmans and Kaler—and their reasons for supporting the archdiocese in its efforts to bring Christ to all areas of central and southern Indiana.
‘If you want to be happy, learn to give’
In the rural expanse of Jennings County lies a farm nearly 175 years old, owned and worked by seven generations of the Gasper family.
The heads of the family are Leo and Patricia (Patty) Gasper. Members of St. Ann Parish in Jennings County, they have been married for 50 years, and have nine children and 27 grandchildren.
“God has given us a lot,” says Leo of why he and Patty donate to the United Catholic Appeal. “We’ve been fortunate, and we feel we need to give to others who have not been as fortunate as we are.”
One could look at the past year and question their “fortune.”
“The Gaspers have had a few bumps in the road this year,” says Leo.
He fell this summer, breaking his leg in four places. One grandson was diagnosed and treated for cancer. And Michelle, the wife of their oldest son, Dan, suffered two aneurisms. The doctors gave her a 10 percent chance to live, and said she would be an invalid if she survived.
Michelle not only survived, but went back as an aide to the seventh-grade class she normally teaches at St. Mary School in North Vernon a few weeks ago.
“When Michelle had her aneurisms,” says Patty, “[our pastor] Father [Jonathan] Meyer came to pray the rosary with us, and it felt like everything would be all right.”
That priestly presence is another reason the Gaspers support the United Catholic Appeal.
“We need priests,” says Leo. “If we don’t educate priests, how can we get by? Without priests, there’s just buildings.”
Giving to the appeal makes the Gaspers feel like they’re giving to “the larger Catholic family.”
And, says Leo, it just “makes my heart feel good.
“If you want to be happy, then learn to give. Then you can always be happy because all you have to do is give more.”
‘Give consistently—make it a habit’
Russ and Linda Jenkins’ son, Father Aaron Jenkins, will benefit from their contribution to the United Catholic Appeal.
But that is not why they donate.
“Even when we were Protestant, we had what was called ‘Our Church’s Wider Mission,’ ” says Russ. “We always thought that giving to that was important.
“It’s the same now that we’re Catholic. It’s not just our parish. There are other things the Church does outside of Rush County.
“Parishes tend to need money spent locally. But parishes can’t do everything. That’s why we give,” he says.
“And we knew we’d be helping spread the Gospel, and helping others in need,” Linda adds.
Russ and Linda, who also have a daughter and three young grandchildren, have been members of St. Mary Parish in Rushville since joining the full communion of the Church in 2008, the same year their son was ordained a priest.
“Initially, we had no intent of joining, but we found it was what we were looking for all our lives,” says Linda.
While knowing their son will benefit from gifts to the United Catholic Appeal is not their main reason for donating, they do appreciate the funds that go to educate seminarians and support retired archdiocesan priests.
“These guys have given us their lives,” says Russ. “It’s our obligation to take care of them their whole life.”
Russ and Linda recognize that there are many ways to help the Church in addition to donating.
“It’s not always just money,” says Russ. “It’s time and talent—whatever you can do to help the Church.”
But when it does come to contributing financially, Russ and Linda’s philosophy is simple.
“It’s no different than going out to dinner every Friday,” says Russ. “That’s a habit. So don’t go, and give that money to the Church.
“Give consistently—make it a habit.”
Getting what you give
At one point in her life, Kathy Kaler found herself in New York, far from home, divorced and raising two children as a single mother.
“I needed help, so I turned to Catholic Charities. To have help from a faith community who understands was really important.”
Sometimes you get what you give, and Kaler, a lifelong Catholic, has given to the United Catholic Appeal—or its equivalent in other dioceses—as long as she can remember.
“It’s something you choose, like supporting your own parish,” says the member of St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis. “[By giving to the appeal], you choose to support all the other things the archdiocese takes care.”
It’s not always easy, she says.
“Being retired and only working one part-time job, money is tight.
“I have [my appeal donation] taken right of my checking account before I ever see it, so I can’t say, ‘I’ll spend this other money first, then give to the Church.’ Christ asked me to give my first fruits to the Church.”
Kaler says she’s “noticed that we have a lot of ‘retired’ priests who are still active, giving other priests in large parishes a break when they need one. We’re supporting them so they can continue to do what we desperately need.
“And deacon formation is extremely important. Every month [the men in formation] go to [Saint] Meinrad or Fatima [Retreat House]. It takes money. We won’t see that fruit until after they finish, but they’re so necessary to our archdiocese.”
A book that Kaler recently read reflected on chapter 25 of the Gospel of Matthew.
“I realized Matthew 25 is really about our opportunity to support the United Catholic Appeal.
“A rabbi asks Jesus what’s the most important law. Jesus says to love God with your heart, mind and soul, then to love your neighbor as yourself.
“The United Catholic Appeal lets us love our neighbor when we can’t do it all by ourselves.”
Supporting ministries ‘in our backyard’
Katie and George Rahman of St. Patrick Parish in Terre Haute did their research on where United Catholic Appeal funds go, and they liked what they found.
Katie explains how the appeal helps in our own backyard.
“Close to home, our donation helps to support [Terre Haute’s] only Catholic grade school [St. Patrick School, where their 5-year-old son, Andrew attends kindergarten], Catholic Charities and our beloved priests like Msgr. [Lawrence] Moran, who has been a wonderful priest in our lives.
“And we’re supporting all these great things in the rest of the archdiocese,” Katie continues. “I know it supports education for children, adults and seminarians.”
Her husband George, too, sees the effects of donating to the appeal.
“Your money is not just going into a black hole. It benefits society. If it benefits society, you’ll see results.”
With George recently earning his master’s degree in theology at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, he also takes a higher-level approach to giving to the greater Church.
“There’s the duty of Christian charity, moral reasons like the plight of the poor, the need for evangelization—all the good things we feel strongly about are all motivators.
“And tithing in general helps you become less attached to material goods,” says George. “It sets your priorities straight.”
With a single income as Katie stays home to care for Andrew, George admits to “a slight hesitation” when it comes to making their pledge.
“But if it doesn’t hurt a little, then we’re not giving enough.”
(For more information on the United Catholic Appeal, log on to www.archindy.org/uca or call the Office of Stewardship and Development at 317-236-1425 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1425.) †
