Nov. 12-13 is the annual United Catholic Appeal intention weekend in archdiocesan parishes

By Natalie Hoefer

The weekend of Nov. 12-13 is the archdiocesan annual United Catholic Appeal (UCA) intention weekend in parishes across the archdiocese.

The goal for this year’s appeal is $6.3 million. The money will be distributed to various ministries and organizations throughout central and southern Indiana, providing help that no single parish or deanery could independently offer.

The theme of this year’s appeal is “United in the Eucharist: Being united today helps bring others hope for tomorrow.”

“The Eucharist is at the very core of who we are and what we’re about as Church,” says Archbishop Charles C. Thompson in a UCA video.

“The word ‘eucharist’ derives from the Greek word to give thanks. If the Eucharist is the source and summit of who we are, the first thing we have to do as Catholics is have grateful hearts.”

One way to show gratitude, he notes, is by giving to the United Catholic Appeal, which supports ministries that go beyond the scope of individual parishes, including:
 

• Providing food, shelter and clothing to more than 7,000 veterans and people with a disability through the archdiocese’s Catholic Charities agencies.
• Sheltering more than 800 homeless families last year.
• Serving hot meals to more than 48,000 hungry individuals.
• Supporting Mother Theodore Catholic Academies and the 24,000 students, teachers and administrators at the archdiocese’s 67 schools last year.
• Providing catechetical programs for 30,000 youths and adults last year.
• Supporting college campus ministry programs.
• Providing financial support to archdiocesan seminarians at Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis and Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad.
• Supporting retired priests who have devoted their lives to serving others.
• Supporting mothers to choose life for their babies instead of abortion.

In advance of intention weekend, Catholics in central and southern Indiana are asked to consider—through prayer and with gratitude—how they are called to help those in need, educate and catechize children and adults, and support seminarians and retired priests through the United Catholic Appeal.
 

(For more information on the United Catholic Appeal, visit www.archindy.org/UCA or call the Office of Stewardship and Development at 317-236-1415 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1415.) †

Related article: UCA allows Catholics ‘to gratefully share what God has given us’