Nov. 4-5 is the annual UCA intention weekend to support seminarian formation, Catholic Charities, retired priests and more

By Natalie Hoefer

The weekend of Nov. 4-5 is the archdiocesan annual United Catholic Appeal (UCA) intention weekend in parishes across central and southern Indiana.

The goal for this year’s appeal is $6.3 million. The money will be distributed to 33 ministries and organizations throughout the archdiocese that meet needs no single parish or deanery can independently address, such as seminarian and diaconate formation, care for retired priests, Catholic Charities, the support of college campus ministry to keep young adults engaged in the faith, homeless shelters and more.

The theme of this year’s appeal is “United in the Eucharist.”

“Your financial support for the pastoral, charitable and diocesan ministries of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a bold example of how we are united in the Eucharist,” Archbishop Charles C. Thompson said in a letter to the archdiocese posted on the website for the United Catholic Appeal (unitedcatholicappeal.org).

“Through the stewarding and sharing of your treasure, you are magnifying the impact we can have in central and southern Indiana, and beyond.” (Related article: Archbishop says appeal impacts more lives ‘when we do this together’)

In the last year, that impact included the following:

• Sheltering more than 1,500 homeless individuals.
• Providing more than 111,000 meals to hungry individuals.
• Supporting 24,000 students, teachers and administrators at the archdiocese’s 67 schools.
• 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. The archdiocese currently has 32 seminarians, the most since 1997.
• 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 unitedcatholicappeal.org or call the Office of Stewardship and Development at 317-236-1415.) †