The word “Catholic” means “universal,” and our faith cares for all our sisters and brothers regardless of the parish in which they worship. One should give to the Appeal because there are certain ministries and services that cannot be provided by a parish but only by a diocese. With your support, the diocese recruits, educates and forms seminarians, pays a pension and needed medical care for our retired clergy, supports a diaconate program and ethnic minorities. The diocese also supports schools and other parishes facing financial distress or an unexpected emergency. Some people may say that as long as we support our parish, we should not be concerned with the needs of other parishes, schools, recruitment, education and formation of our future clergy, and forming our youth and young adults in our faith beyond our own parish. Through the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal, the diocese is able to carry out these ministries and services which is only possible through the generosity of our parishioners. 

Programs and Ministries Funded Through the Bishop's Ministries Appeal

Diocesan pastoral ministries and services focus on strengthening our faith, our families, and building up our parish communities by engaging people in the daily life of the Church as they strive to live as faithful disciples of Christ.
• Liturgy
• Respect Life Justice Programs
• Vietnamese, Filipino & Latino Ministries
• Ethnic Pastoral Centers
• Marriage & Family Life Ministries
• Marriage Preparation Programs
• Youth Retreat Center
• Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Programs
• Catholic Scouting
• Young Adult Ministries
• Children & Youth Ministries
• Stewardship Education

Religious Education & Formation

Gifts to the Bishop's Ministries Appeal help support religious education and formation programs for thousands of youth and adults annually.
• Faith Formation Programs
• Evangelization & Outreach Efforts
• Right of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
• Religious Education Teachers’ Training
• Serra Catechetical Institute
• St. Francis de Sales School for Pastoral Ministry

Clergy Formation & Support

From initial formation into retirement, the Diocese provides support for our priests. Additionally, continued updating and renewal for priests and deacons who faithfully serve our people is supported by your gift to the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal.
• Permanent Diaconate Program
• Office of Vocations
• Seminarian Education & Formation
• Priest Retirement & Long-term Care
• Continuing Education Programs

Support for Catholic Schools & Parishes in Need

Each year, the Diocese provides subsidies and grants to assist with operating expenses at inner-city Catholic schools, and for parishes facing extraordinary and immediate financial challenges.
• Operating Subsidies
• Capital Expenditure Grants
• Emergency Funding Support

Assisting Local Parishes

Every parish has its own needs and plans for growth and new ministries to better serve their parishioners and the local community. The Bishop’s Appeal will again return 100% of all monies collected above each individual parish’s goal for use at the parish level.

Safe Environment Programs

Providing a safe haven for children, young adults and vulnerable adults.

Donate to Bishop's Ministries Appeal

These are the most commonly asked questions concerning the Bishop's Appeal. If you have a question, but do not find it below, please call the Office of Mission Advancement at 510-267-8358, or email your question to us.

1. What is the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal?

2. What does the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal Fund?

3. How are parish goals determined?

4. If my parish exceeds its goal, where does the excess go?

5. Does my parish pay assessments on Bishop’s Ministries Appeal rebates?

6. What happens if my parish does not meet its established goal?

7. My parish owes money to the Diocese for a loan or emergency, or we fell behind on our regular payments (insurance, etc.). How will the parish rebate be handled if we surpass the goal?

8. Do I have to achieve goal to receive my parish rebate?

9. Will any of these funds be used for expenses other than the defined case elements?

10. When will pledge redemption begin?

11. How will my parish receive credit for parishioner gifts?

12. Can a parishioner restrict a gift to one or more of the case for support elements?

13. Are any of the funds for the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal used to pay for civil lawsuits or judgments?

14. How will parishioners be contacted during the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal?

15. What types of gifts will be accepted?

16. How will progress of the Bishop's Ministries Appeal be communicated to the parishes? 
 

1. What is the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal?

The total budget for the Diocese of Oakland in 2023 is approximately $17 million. Of that, the budget for diocesan-wide ministries and services is roughly $7 million. While income is generated to support the budget through parish assessments, rent collection on property, service fees and interest on the diocesan investments, the income does not fully meet the budgetary needs for providing all diocesan level ministries, programs, and services at the parish level. The Bishop's Ministries Appeal raises funds to offset the shortfall.

2. What does the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal Fund?

The Bishop’s Ministries Appeal is a direct appeal to the people of the Diocese, a request for a one-time gift or pledge to support the ministry budget. Without the financial support of our diocesan family through the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal, thousands throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties and beyond could not be served. The Bishop’s Ministries Appeal is an opportunity for every Catholic household to support the following vital ministries:

Pastoral Ministries & Services

Diocesan pastoral ministries and services focus on strengthening our faith, our families, and building up our parish communities by engaging our people in the daily life of the Church. 
• Liturgy
• Marriage & Family Life 
• Vietnamese, Filipino & Latino Ministries
• Youth Retreat Center
• Marriage Preparation Programs
• Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Operations
• Ethnic Pastoral Centers 
• Young Adult Ministries
• Children & Youth Ministries
• Catholic Scouting
• Respect Life & Justice Programs

Religious Education & Formation

Gifts to the appeal help support religious education and formation programs for thousands of youth and adults annually.
• Faith Formation Programs
• Evangelization and Outreach Efforts 
• Right of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
• Religious Education Teachers’ Training
• Serra Catechetical Institute
• St. Francis de Sales School for Pastoral Ministry

Clergy Formation & Support

From initial formation to retirement, the Diocese provides support for our priests. Additionally, your gift to the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal supports continued education and spiritual renewal for priests and deacons who faithfully serve our people. 
• Permanent Diaconate Program
• Office of Vocations
• Seminarian Education & Formation
• Priest Retirement & Long-term Care
• Continuing Education Programs

Support for Catholic Schools & Parishes in Need

Each year, our schools and parishes are faced with emergency repairs or budgetary shortfalls. The Diocese will again return 100% of all funds collected over and above each parish's goal to the parish for its own needs, plans for growth and new ministries to better serve their parishioners and the local community. Additionally, the diocese provides
• Operating Subsidies
• Capital Expenditure Grants
• Emergency Funding Support
• Safe Environment Programs

3. How are parish goals determined?

Parish goals are determined by unrestricted parish revenue in a given year.

4. If my parish exceeds its goal, where does the excess go?

100% of all funds collected over a parish’s goal will be returned directly to parishes for their own needs in the form of rebate checks paid at the conclusion of the Appeal (i.e., Feb. 2024). 

5. Does my parish pay assessments on Bishop’s Ministries Appeal rebates?

Bishop’s Ministries Appeal rebates are not assessed (taxed) by the Diocese.

6. What happens if my parish does not meet its established goal?

There is no penalty if a parish does not meet its goal, as many factors may adversely affect fundraising. Parishes are expected to make a good faith effort to raise their assigned goals.

7. My parish owes money to the diocese for a loan or emergency, or we fell behind on our regular payments (insurance, etc.). How will the parish rebate be handled if we surpass the goal?

One hundred percent of funds raised over and above the parish's goal will accrue to the parish in the form of a rebate. The rebate will be issued to the parish in the form of a check or may be used to reduce any past debt owed to the diocese.

8. Does my parish have to achieve its goal in order to receive a rebate?

Your parish must achieve and exceed its goal in order to receive a rebate. Also please remember, the rebate is based on the cash received, not pledges made. The diocese cannot make rebate payments on pledges, as not all pledges are fully redeemed by all parishioners.

9. Will any of these funds be used for expenses other than the defined case elements?

No. Funds raised through the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal will be used exclusively for the listed elements. The diocese has both a legal and ethical obligation to restrict these funds for the stated case items under both canon law and civil law.

10. When will pledge redemption begin?

Parishioners who make pledges will receive their first reminder mailing one month after their pledge, and if possible, donors are asked to complete their pledges by December 31st (the end of the calendar year). One-time gifts are also welcome.

11. How will my parish receive credit for parishioner gifts?

On the direct mail pledge card, a person’s registered parish will be pre-printed. Parishioners are encouraged to double-check their registry on this card when it is received in the mail. Also, for gifts made through the in-pew envelope or the newspaper insert response, a space is provided for a parish listing. It is important that your parishioners indicate which parish should receive credit, and specify the correct city/location of the parish.

12. Can a parishioner restrict a gift to one or more of the case for support elements?

No. All gifts will be used for the purposes outlined by the diocese as published in the Appeal materials.

13. Are Bishop’s Ministries Appeal funds used to pay for civil lawsuits or judgments?

No. Gifts to the Bishop's Ministries Appeal, as well as other gifts designated for specific purposes, are held by the diocese and can only be used for the donor’s intended purpose. The bankruptcy laws protect such donations from being used to pay any legal settlements related to RCBO filing for bankruptcy.

14. How will parishioners be contacted during the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal?

It is intended that every Catholic household within the diocese be presented with the needs of the Appeal so that parishioners may learn how their gifts benefit our communities. This is achieved through a series of mailings, a video, print materials, pulpit announcements, bulletin inserts, and other methods.

15. What types of gifts will be accepted?

Traditional gifts via personal checks are accepted, as well as payments made with by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express) or through direct debit with a checking account. Parishioners can make an online gift by visiting the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal website at www.oakdiocese.org/bishops-appeal-donation-page. Other gifts such as appreciated stock or securities, easily liquidated property, and bequests are also options. Procedures for making a gift of stock or securities gift can be found on the diocese website here or by contacting the Office for Mission Advancement at 510-267-8358.

16. How will progress of the Appeal be communicated to the parishes?

The Office of Mission Advancement will provide updates to pastors and parish staff on a bi-weekly basis. Parishes are asked to share the fundraising results with parishioners in bulletin and pulpit announcements.

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR DONORS

Diocese of Oakland applies donations towards the service, ministry, or campaign specified by the donor. Funds are never redirected to any other purpose. Diocese of Oakland will not sell, share, or trade our donors' names or personal information with any other entity, nor send mailings to our donors on behalf of other organizations. This policy applies to all information received by the Diocese of Oakland, both online and offline, as well as any electronic, written, or oral communications. To the extent any donations are processed through a third-party service provider, our donors' information will only be used for purposes necessary to process the donation.