Benefits of Partners in Faith Campaign

Parishes in Diocese receive third rebate installment, allowing capital improvements to sustein faith communities

CLIFTON  Four years after Partners in Faith (PIF), the diocesan capital and endowment campaign kicked-off, parishes around the Paterson Diocese are once again witnessing the works of the generous donations and pledges made by the faithful throughout Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties within their own faith communities.

The campaign, which kicked off in the fall of 2012 with a small group of pilot parishes, has given parishes the opportunity to strengthen the mission of the Church and its parish family. For many of the faithful, money benefiting their home parish was an important case element of the campaign. In addition, Partners in Faith has allowed the diocese to extend its reach to the poor, foster important Catholic values to school children, assist priests in need of special care and put the diocese’s Mother Church — the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, on a solid foundation for decades to come.

With pledges to Partners in Faith reaching $61 million, parishes received their third rebate installment recently to address the parish community’s individual needs.

Bishop Serratelli said, “The theme of our campaign, ‘Partners in Faith’ was chosen because it accurately reflects how our Catholic faith can unite us to accomplish great things for so many. Our parishes are where the people experience firsthand the love of Christ through the Eucharist. It is where faith flourishes and the Gospel is preached. It is fitting that one of the priorities of Partners in Faith was sustaining the work of each parish and maintaining each as a vibrant, thriving faith community. I am so pleased to see this happening with the help of Partners in Faith, and I am grateful to all who continue to fulfill their pledges so that these rebates continue to bring new life to our parishes.”

Each parish was assigned a financial target as part of the overall campaign goal. Twenty-five percent of the amount pledged and received up to the parish target will be returned to the parish. Sixty percent of all cash received over the parish goal will then be returned to the parish. For a full list of individual 2015 parish rebates, see list on page 2.

“There are so many remarkable things which have been made possible by the people of the diocese in our Partners in Faith campaign,” said Msgr. James Mahoney, vicar general, moderator of the Curia, and pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Chatham Township. “I do not want to see overlooked the role played in this campaign by our pastors. Without their support and the trust that our parishioners had in their pastors’ judgment and guidance, the campaign would never have been so successful.”

At St. Francis DeSales Parish in McAfee section of Vernon in Sussex County, the rebates have been used to make upgrades to the lighting in the church and the air conditioning unit in the church’s administrative offices, its conference room and St. Francis’ youth room.

“The parishioners have seen the good that Partners in Faith has done for the parish and the diocese,” said Father Brian Quinn, pastor of St. Francis DeSales. “Whenever the parishioners are asked to donate for a cause, they are unbelievably generous. Pastors feel uncomfortable asking for money but the parishioners never hesitate in donating to important causes and they come through and then some.”

The church building of St. Francis DeSales in Vernon was opened in 1986 and upgrades were made to the exterior of the building with new siding installed on the entire church. Some upcoming projects will include installing a new air conditioning system in the church building and repaving the parking lot.

“The parishioners feel at home here,” said Father Quinn, “and they are happy to see all we are able to accomplish because of Partners in Faith.”

Parish rebates will continue to be disbursed annually as pledges are fulfilled over the course of the redemption period, which is through 2018.

Msgr. Mahoney said, “I never heard one pastor mention that he loved raising money. If there was one, I did not hear about it. Many pastors mentioned that they found this to be such an uncomfortable role for them. I know I did. All the pastors wanted to help their people and preach the Gospel. They were willing to follow our Bishop’s leadership. The pastors stayed with the plan; their parishioners responded; and now both the parishes and the diocese are better because of the work by our pastors.”

With a minimum of $10 million set to help parishes, each parish formulated a case statement at the beginning of the campaign to address the special and individual needs on where donations will go for their home church.

At Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Pompton Plains, the rebate was used to make repairs to its aging rectory and the parking lot of the church. With more than 1,500 families, the parish is constantly a hub of activity.

Father Paul O’Donnell Duggan, pastor, said, “That gift was a blessing in repairing our water heater and pipes at the rectory, which broke down recently. People were thrilled and delighted to see where the money is going and that it is being used for good purposes to help maintain our buildings.”

At St. Jude Parish in Hamburg, Father Bill Collins thanked his parishioners for the rebate received from PIF in the parish bulletin. “These fund are only available because of those parishioners who are making ongoing payments on their Partners in Faith pledges,” he wrote. “I am so grateful to all who are consistent in paying their pledges.”

In addition to St. Jude’s individual campaign to build a new parish hall, the rebate from Partners in Faith has helped the growing Hamburg parish expand its campus. The parish hall houses several resource rooms used for meetings, a religious education office, storage area, rest rooms and a kitchen. It is also used for many social events hosted by the parish and it is also rented out to parishioners and the local community for parties and other functions.

“This area has grown over the last 20 years and the numbers of families coming to St. Jude’s has increased. The parishioners have been supportive about the campaign and have been the ones who are making the parish grow,” said Father Collins.

As the pledge fulfillment part of the campaign continues, Msgr. Mahoney said, “There are so many challenges to be faced. Economic issues are real for the diocese and for our families. But together, some great things have happened. As our contributors continue to pay their pledge commitments, even more great things will be done during the next year.”