Support of Local Parish Needs $10,000,000
Various financial challenges face our parishes on a daily basis. In order to help every parish with their local needs, each will receive a 25% return on all funds raised during the campaign up to their parish goal.
When a parish exceeds their campaign goal, they will then receive 75% of funds raised over their goal. In this way, both the Diocese and the parishes are benefiting from our mutual efforts to strengthen our local Church in North Texas.
St. Patrick Cathedral $1,000,000
St. Patrick Cathedral, located in the heart of the Fort Worth business district and enrolled in the National Register of Historic Places, is the Mother Church of our Diocese. The All Things Possible Campaign will help local parishioners’ efforts to preserve and archive the great history of our Mother Church, which impacts us all, no matter where we are in our local Church.
Sharing in Ministry Appeal $4,000,000
Each year, the Diocese of Fort Worth conducts Sharing in Ministry, the annual diocesan appeal, which provides operating funds for numerous programs, services and ministries, especially in rural areas throughout the Diocese. Since we will be embarking upon this campaign in 2009-2010, the decision was made to incorporate the annual appeal into the campaign for two years, in order to sustain the operations of the vital services, programs and ministries which normally benefit from the annual appeal.
Seminary Burse Fund $1,500,000
Currently, there are approximately 30 men studying in various stages of a nine-year education and formation program toward becoming a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Fort Worth. The cost to educate one seminarian is approximately $30,000 annually. We are blessed to have so many seminarians, but with this blessing comes tremendous responsibilities dictating the need for growth in the fund.
Priest Care Fund $750,000
As the primary spiritual leaders of our parishes, our priests deserve our support during their active ministry, as well as in their retirement. This campaign will help us provide the necessary funds so that our priests can receive medical and long-term care as needed.
Priest Pension Fund $750,000
Many priests who have dedicated their lives to minister to the faithful are approaching retirement age or are already drawing upon their retirement benefits. The current priests’ retirement plan is only partially funded. This campaign will grow the Priest Pension Fund to a level that will enhance the benefits to our retired priests.
Catholic Campus Ministry $750,000
In this campaign, 80% of the funds raised for Catholic Campus Ministry is designated to the University of North Texas in Denton and the remaining 20% used to enhance and expand the Catholic presence on campuses like University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Christian University, Texas Woman’s University and Midwestern State University.
Center-City Catholic Schools Capital Improvements $4,500,000
Reflecting the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI, and in union with him and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Diocese of Fort Worth is firmly committed to supporting Catholic school education for students of every race and ethnic background. From this campaign, $4,500,000 will fund necessary facility improvements, as well as technological upgrades to All Saints, Our Mother of Mercy, St. George Catholic School and Cassata High School.
Bishop's Scholars Fund Endowment $10,000,000
In 2006, Bishop Vann initiated a long-range plan to ensure the financial stability and growth of our 22 Catholic schools. Included in this plan was a decision to move towards a cost-based tuition model, supported by need-based aid. In order to offer Catholic school education to all who desire it, $10,000,000 generated in this campaign will create an endowed fund to support the Bishop’s Scholars Fund. By providing need-based financial aid, we help to ensure that our schools are available, accessible and affordable to all who desire to attend.
Hospital in Honduras $1,500,000
The Diocese of Fort Worth has partnered with the Diocese of Juticalpa in Honduras for nearly ten years. During this time, the Diocese has sent aid through a multitude of resources, materials and missionaries from various parishes. At present, residents of Catacamas, Honduras must travel over an hour to the nearest hospital for access to adequate medical treatment and urgent care. With land already donated and with Honduran government financial support in place, monies from the All Things Possible Campaign will be the catalyst for building and launching the hospital.
Rural Ministry Initiatives $2,000,000
The Diocese of Fort Worth is spread over 24,000 square miles, covering 28 counties of North Texas, with a large number of our parishes located in rural areas. Due to this vast geographic area, rural parishes face challenges that are very different from larger parishes. This campaign will enhance existing ministries and provide opportunities for the creation of new ministries and outreach to our rural parishes. Rural parish communities will help to develop new strategies to provide new and innovative ministries supported by this fund.
Ministry Formation Center $750,000
The Ministry Formation Center, a priority identified by the Diocesan Synod, will support the ministries of our Diocese with badly needed facilities. The site, originally St. Theresa’s Home for Children, will be renovated to function as the Ministry Formation Center for retreats, conferences and seminars.
Adult Catechesis and Faith Formation $750,000
The Diocese of Fort Worth is embarking on a four-year journey to connect the richness of the Catholic faith to everyday life through a parish-based, catechetical process called “Why Catholic?” – A Pastoral Approach to Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation. “Why Catholic?” will allow parishes in the Diocese to read, study, and reflect upon the Catechism of the Catholic Church and to foster and invigorate adult catechesis.
In addition, a three-tiered series of training seminars for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) will be funded by this campaign. This will strengthen and enhance RCIA throughout the Diocese.
Telecommunication $750,000
From this campaign, $750,000 will aid in the creation of a regional network throughout the Diocese in order to serve and teach individuals regardless of their location. This technology will bring catechist formation classes, workshops, and other seminars to the rural and outlying parishes in the Diocese, enabling them to simultaneously take advantage of these valuable programs.
Catholic Charities $1,000,000
The Diocese of Fort Worth has committed $1,000,000 to the “Building Hope” campaign for the new Catholic Charities headquarters. This gift is restricted as an endowment for the care and maintenance of the new facility located in south Fort Worth.
If you have questions about the All Things Possible Campaign, please call the campaign office at (817) 560-2452 Ext. 350.