April 17, 2009

CPC Commitment Weekend: April 25-26

Your CPC pledge helps your parish and touches the lives of thousands of Southwestern Indiana Catholics through these diocesan offices, programs and services:

Educating and guiding our children and adults

1. Catholic Schools Office: Oversees and coordinates the educational programs and curriculum (academic and religious) of Catholic schools in the diocese; plans and organizes professional development opportunities for school staff; provides a central record keeping system on school staff and other personnel; provides on-going support, consultation, program development and future planning initiatives; provides assistance in the area of policy making, and assists in maintaining safe schools.

2. Office for Youth and Young Adult Formation: Coordination, education and support for those involved in local and diocesan-wide programs and services for the young people of our diocese. Includes responsibility for:

Youth Movements: TEC, Communion and Liberation, Source and Summit, Server Formation and others
Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts: Small subsidy for specifically Catholic scouting activities and programs such as the Ad Altare Dei medal, Child of God award, etc.
Campus Ministry: On-campus Catholic programs and services for students at all major state and private colleges/universities within our diocese.

3. Office for Adult Formation: Responsible for developing spiritual formation and training programs for lay pastoral leadership: Directors of Religious Education, Pastoral Life Coordinators and Pastoral Associates; assists Catholic Schools Office with the spiritual formation of Catholic School principals; provides consultation, support, resources and training for catechists, Catholic School religion teachers and parish volunteer lay ministers.

Serving our parishes

4. Activities Department: Responsible for promoting, scheduling and preparing for countless meetings and other functions within the Catholic Center/Sarto Retreat House complex; includes facilities maintenance and meal preparation for guests and employees.

5. Chancery: Central administrative office of the diocese which includes the Bishop, Vicar General, Chancellor and Treasurer. Responsibilities entail diocesan planning, budget preparation, support for various advisory bodies including Diocesan Pastoral Council, Diocesan Building Commission and Diocesan Finance Council; support for Parish Pastoral Councils; policy development and review; employee compensation management and legal counsel; major building and renovation review; records management and archives; support for Safe Environment Program implemenation.

6. Communications Office/Message: Preparation and publication of the diocesan weekly newspaper, the Message; assisting parishes in newsletter and brochure publications; coordination of information and activities involving all communications media within the diocese.

7. Office of Worship: Coordination and planning for major diocesan and local liturgical celebrations; training and support for those involved in liturgical ministry.

8. Tribunal: Central judicial office of the diocese which is directed by the Judicial Vicar. The staff of specially trained canon lawyers is responsible for the work involved in assisting those who petition for annulments and dissolutions of marriage as well as assisting the Bishop in other canonical matters.

9. Vocations Office: Recruiting, screening and educating people for the priesthood and religious life.

Helping the poor and others in need

10. Catholic Charities: Wide range of programs and services for people in emotional, physical and financial need. Includes Parish and Community Services such as Family Life, Marriage Enrichment, Marriage Preparation, Pro-Life, Justice and Peace; Individual, Family and Group Counseling Services; School Counseling Services for Parochial Schools; Adoption; Foster Care, and Pregnancy Counseling.

11. Christian Sharing Fund: $75,000 set aside this coming budget year and administered by Catholic Charities for emergency assistance for needy people throughout the diocese at the request of the local pastor.

12. Ministry to the Deaf: Special religious and liturgical programs and services for the hearing impaired.

13. St. John Parish Subsidy: Contribution to St. John Parish, Evansville, which assists that parish with its specialized work in the inner city.

14. Hispanic Ministry: Needed programs and services for the growing Hispanic population in our diocese.

Caring for those who serve our diocese

15. Clergy on Leave/Emergency Assistance: Support for those members of the clergy who are temporarily unable to serve because of personal or family difficulties.

16. Council of Priests: Administrative help and materials needed for the efficient and effective operation of this major diocesan consultative body.

17. Lay Employees Pension Plan: Funding for the diocesan retirement plan involving more than 1,000 pension eligible employees throughout the diocese.

18. Ministry to Priests: Special training, continuing education and spiritual programs for priests and other ministerial leaders of the diocese.

19. Permanent Deacons Program: Programs for recruiting, screening and preparing men for the permanent diaconate; includes after-ordination continuing formation and support.