As Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland prepares to launch its 2025 Appeal, groups of pastors, business managers and other parish officials were invited to attend one of three pre-launch lunch and learn events.
The first took place Jan. 27 at St. Bridget of Kildare Parish in Parma. It was the first time in five years – since the coronavirus pandemic – that the events took place in person. Two additional sessions are scheduled next week at Blessed Trinity Parish in Akron and St. John of the Cross Parish in Euclid.
“Make me a Channel of Your Peace” is the theme for the 2025 Appeal. The goal is to raise $15.6 million to serve those in need in all eight counties in the diocese.
Patrick Grace, executive director of the Catholic Community Foundation, which supports the mission of the diocese to provide for the spiritual, educational and charitable needs of people throughout Northeast Ohio, provided information about the upcoming appeal and its importance. Bishop Edward Malesic also offered some remarks and Jim Mullen, the new president/CEO of Catholic Charities was introduced.
Grace pointed out the partnerships that Catholic Charities has with more than 50 parishes throughout the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland. St. Bridget is one of the newer collaborating parishes as it houses the Head Start program in Parma in the former parish school building.
Father Rob Wisniewski, St. Bridget pastor, welcomed attendees to his parish and shared information about the collaboration that brought Head Start to the parish campus.
“The partnership we have with parishes is at the heart of this,” Grace said about Catholic Charities as he thanked pastors and parish representatives for their support.
Those collaborations and the work of Catholic Charities have a wide reach, Grace said. There are 189 programs, 112 activities, 54 sites, 746 staff members and more than 15,000 volunteers who donated more than 200,000 volunteer hours to serve nearly 400,000 people under the local Catholic Charities umbrella.
Among the shared ministries/collaborations with parishes are day care, senior programs, foster care, adoption, Head Start, hot meals, rent and utility assistance, youth mentoring, after-school programs, summer camps, case management, counseling, services to the unhoused and others in need, holiday meals, hunger centers/food pantries, employment training, refugee housing, clothing banks, programs for those with disabilities and substance use disorders. One of the newer programs is the Ukrainian Welcome Circle. More than a dozen parishes created Welcome Circles to help relocate those fleeing the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Grace said some interesting trends have developed among donors during the past several years. In 2020, the appeal raised nearly $14.5 million. By 2024, that had increased to nearly $15.7 million. The in-pew weekend traditionally generates a substantial amount of donations. However, Grace noted that although the amount of donations continues to increase, “we are seeing more donations from fewer donors.” He said this is typical for other fundraising campaigns, also. “Those who are giving are more generous,” he said.
In addition, Grace said the way donations are being made has evolved over the past several years with the number of both online and recurring donors increasing each year since 2020.
Bishop Malesic underscored the importance of the Catholic Charities Appeal, explaining that “Love God, love your neighbor is how we become holy. Sharing and providing resources for Catholic Charities is one important way to do that.”
He said there are three things a parish must do: worship, evangelization and service. “Catholic Charities fits into this, especially the service component,” he added.
The bishop said he is pleased to hear about the many collaborations and partnerships parishes throughout the diocese have with Catholic Charities. “That’s where the rubber meets the road – at the parishes.”
Also speaking briefly was Mullen, who begins his new role on Feb. 3. He replaced Patrick Gareau who retired recently. Mullen is familiar with the ministry of Catholic Charities because his late father led the organization from 1994-2010.
“It’s an honor to follow in the footsteps of my father,” Mullen said, explaining he grew up with Catholic Charities. “Serving individuals, families and communities who deserve transformational and lasting improvement in heath equity is my life’s work.” Mullen is leaving his position as president and CEO of United Way of Sumit and Medina, where he has served since 2015.
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, is one of the nation’s five largest Catholic Charities agencies. It provides multigenerational services for families and children, emergency assistance to support food security and stable housing, critically needed behavioral health services for people seeking support, health and wellness through CYO athletics, camps for thousands of young people and more.
Click here to learn more about Catholic Charities. For information on the 2025 Appeal, click here, and watch a video about the appeal here.