News & Press Releases

In an effort to provide those who visit this site with up-to-date information regarding events or stories of interest happening within the diocese, the Secretariat for Communications researches and prepares articles and news releases.

Access to the most recent news is available under "News Headlines" on the home page. Copies of old stories are available by accessing the Archives at the end of the News and Press Release section.

Jubilee CSA Weekend: May 6 & 7

May 02, 2000
Twenty-nine years ago, the Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) was established in the Diocese of Gaylord to help address a vast array of needs within our local area as well as thoughout our global community. Over the years, the wisdom of this decision has proven itself in numerous ways. Nearly 100 vital church ministries are funded, and numerous collections formerly held in each parish throughout the year are included in this annual campaign. The Catholic Services Appeal is truly Many Campaigns in One. The theme for this year's campaign is Open the Doors to Christ which coincides with the focus set forth by Pope John Paul II for the Jubilee Year 2000.The CSA budget for this year is 2,448,888. Approximately twenty-five percent of the dollars raised by the CSA are used to fund national and international collections such as: the Collection for the Works of the Holy Father, the Holy Land and Peter's Pence Collections, the American Bishop's Overseas Appeal, Catholic Home Mission, the National Campaign for Human Development, Catholic University of America, the United States Catholic Conference and the Catholic Communications Campaign, to name just a few. Local organizations receiving CSA funds include: Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, the Madonna House of Prayer, the Augustine Retreat Center and Catholic Human Services, which provides social services to the needy and other organizations throughout our 21-county area. Thirteen percent of the CSA budget is used to support the clergy by providing training for seminarians, continuing education for active priests and retirement income for senior priests. Another fifteen percent of the budget is dedicated to fixed costs, paying off debt, taxes, maintenance, reserves, contingencies and other miscellaneous expenses. The balance of the collective gifts to the CSA campaign is used by the bishop's staff to assist parishes within the Diocese of Gaylord. Specifically the programming secretariats are involved with the education and spiritual formation of adults, children and youth, liturgical ministry development, music ministry, marriage enrichment, parish councils, social justice issues and evangelization. The Rose Resource Center offers books, periodicals, videos and other resources for loan to parish personnel and the general public. The Secretariats for Administrative Services and Financial Development are concerned with parish and diocesan fiscal management. Administrative Services helps parishes account for and preserve their resources and well as handling diocesan financial issues. The Development office assists with stewardship, fund raising and capital campaign programs. The Secretariat for Communications provides Catholics in northern Michigan with information, spiritual programming, and resources through the media of newspapers, radio, television and the world wide web. The Tribunal serves both parishes and individuals through interpretation of Canon Law and marriage nullity rulings. Through this work, many hundreds of Catholics each year are enabled to return to full union with their faith. Many wonderful things are accomplished through your gifts to the Catholic Services Appeal. The continuing of our Catholic faith and the support of those needs which must be served depend on those to support the CSA. Please give generously! Your CSA Dollars At Work National and International Grants and Donations Bishop's Overseas Relief Campaign for Human Development Catholic Communications Campaign Catholic University Eastern European Collection Holy Land Collection Home Missions Latin American Collection Papal Support Peter's Pence Collection Racial Minorities and Native Americans United States Catholic Conference Local Grants and Donations Augustine Retreat Center Catholic Human Services Catholic Schools Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Habitat for Humanity Madonna House of Prayer Northwestern Michigan College Campus Ministry Right to Life St. Mary Cathedral Priest and Seminarians Education of Seminarians Pastoral Support of Priests and Pastoral Administrators Priests' Retirement Priests' Health and Welfare Vocations Office Diocesan Fixed Costs Administration and Contingencies Buildings and Grounds Maintenance Capital Purchases Debt Retirement Insurance, Taxes and Legal Expenses Diocesan Programming Bishop's Office Communications Ecumenism Evangelization Faith Formation of Adults Faith Formation of Children and Youth Financial Development Hispanic Ministry Indian Ministry Marriage Enrichment Social Concerns Worship/Liturgical Formation