LUMEN magazine

Summer 2026 | annualcatholicappeal.com

LUMEN For friends of the Archdiocese of Chicago

TOGETHER WE BRING LIGHT Promises and pathways to happiness in a troubled world

WHO WE ARE The Archdiocese of Chicago serves around two million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles.

The archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries. This local church is pastored by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, assisted by six episcopal vicars, each responsible for a vicariate (region).

Our Mission

We provide opportunities for our parishes and the people of our local communities to put faith into action.

It’s through our initiatives and programs that we seek the faith formation of others, and encourage people to deepen their faith in Christ and live as disciples through each aspect of life.

FACTS AND FIGURES CATHOLIC POPULATION

PARISHES

1,947,000 216

Parishes

18,700

16,880

Baptisms

First Communions

33% (Catholic population as

percentage of total population of Cook and Lake counties)

3,560

CATHOLIC EDUCATION

15,560

Confirmations

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

151 Elementary schools 29 Secondary schools CATHOLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

6 Catholic colleges and universities CATHOLIC HOSPITALS

12 Catholic hospitals CATHOLIC CEMETERIES

47 Catholic cemeteries January 2026

Weddings

10,530

Funerals

DIOCESAN PRIESTS, DEACONS, WOMEN AND MEN RELIGIOUS, AND LAY PERSONNEL

638 357 88 150 700 663 40

Diocesan priests (including active and retired) Religious priests Extern priests Religious prothers Women peligious Deacons (including active, active outside the diocese, retired and other) Certified pastoral associates

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Feature Story

Promises and pathways to happiness in a troubled world

Natalie Battaglia Photography

18 DONOR STORY Continuing a legacy of faith and service

20 GIVING SOCIETIES 21 The 2026 Annual Catholic Appeal theme in which Pope Leo XIV proclaims “Together we bring light” graces St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish’s rectory façade. The sign is seen by thousands of commuters along the Kennedy Expressway each day. Established in 1867 on what was then farmland, the parish sits at Noble and Potomac streets near Milwaukee Avenue.

04 FROM THE CARDINAL

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05 THEOLOGY 101 What is special about Catholic funerals?

OUR MINISTRIES Building bridges through friendship, service and faith

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CAMPAIGN UPDATE From underdogs to one united parish

06 PATRON SAINTS St. Moses the Black

DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS 2025 Annual Catholic Appeal

22 PLANNED GIVING Giving through donoradvised funds

CONTACTS Brendan Keating, JD Chief Development Officer 312.534.5271 bkeating@archchicago.org Melissa M. Babcock, CFRE Senior Director of Development 312.534.8197 mbabcock@archchicago.org Barbara Shea Collins Director, Annual Catholic Appeal 312.534.7944 bcollins@archchicago.org

16 08 FEATURE STORY Promises and pathways to happiness in a troubled world

SPIRITUAL RENEWAL Small steps together

Jose Piñones Director of Giving 312.534.8278 jpinones@archchicago.org Carla Beecher Editor, Lumen magazine

Front cover: Natalie Battaglia Photography

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FROM THE CARDINAL

Cyndy Flores-Mocarski/Chicago Catholic

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Thank you for your support of the Annual Catholic Appeal. Very likely, you do not even realize all the good that comes from your support. With your help, the archdiocese is able to help parishes and schools in need, foster religious education for children and ministerial formation for those who serve the Church, uphold the dignity of all people and their precious right to life, and help the helpless throughout the world through Catholic Relief Services. Your financial contributions really do make a difference in the lives of so many people. The theme of this year’s Appeal expresses it well: Together we bring light.

As you have been generous with your financial support, I also encourage your generosity in sharing your time and talents with a world in need. Whether it is in your family or your workplace or your local community or even the wider world, you can serve and bring light to others. This may sound like a daunting task, and you may wonder where to begin. Allow me to offer you some suggestions — real steps you can consider taking to equip yourself to share your talents and time as a light for this world so troubled by darkness.

The first step is to pray. Pray “Thy will be done” and pray that God will let you know what you are to do. Listen to the Lord who speaks inside of us and through others.

Another essential foundation for our service involves forming ourselves in union with the mind of the Church. In a particular way, we need to become familiar with the Church’s teachings about the human person and the needs of our world. The best place to begin is with is the Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. It reads “the signs of the times,” that is, indicators of the needs, struggles, and possibilities of our world in our moment.

The Constitution then takes up important themes, such as family life, justice and peace in our world, and the right way to establish human priorities. Study and personal reflection on this document could be an effective starting point for exploring our commitments in the world.

Finally, as you consider sharing your time and talents in service of the Gospel in order to bring light to the world, realize that you do not do this alone. We do this together, as a Church and as a community of faith. As part of our archdiocesan renewal, I hope and dream of a time when we will readily come together in our parishes, walk together in faith, discern together what the Lord wants us to do, and take action together to accomplish his will. This is nothing more than the vision of synodality.

May God bless your generosity to the Annual Catholic Appeal. And may God lead you forward to share yourself generously in your service as a light to the world.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Archbishop of Chicago

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LUMEN | Summer 2026 | annualcatholicappeal.com

THEOLOGY 101

BY FATHER LOUIS J. CAMELI, STD

A few years ago, I participated in an ecumenical and interfaith gathering of Catholic and Orthodox priests, Protestant ministers, and Jewish rabbis from the Chicago metro area to share our experiences of funerals celebrated with our respective congregations. Practices ranged from absolutely fixed and unchangeable rituals to free-for-alls that might even include roasting the deceased.

No priest, minister, or rabbi was completely happy with the way funerals unfolded. Across denominational lines, we could claim a consensus that certain values needed to be shored up for the celebration of funerals — comfort for the grieving family and friends, respect for the faith tradition, loving remembrance of the deceased, and — if necessary — some movement in the direction of healing for broken or frayed relationships.

This experience led me to reflect more deeply on our Catholic funeral tradition. Our practice includes three stations or stages in the full ritual: the vigil or wake service, the funeral Mass (sometimes mistakenly called the “Mass of Resurrection”), and the burial or committal at the cemetery.

Our funerals are not what is — again, mistakenly — called “a celebration of life.” Certainly, as I will explain, the life of the deceased is remembered, but in a much larger context than that of our life on earth. If we focus on the funeral Mass, certain key elements become clear.

The funeral Mass has to do with grief. Clearly, death brings with it a sense of loss accompanied by sadness. The liturgy acknowledges

that sense of loss and grief but also affirms that it does not have the last word. The prayers and words of Scripture echo the thoughts of Paul writing to the Thessalonians: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14) In addition to facing the grief that follows death, the funeral Mass is also an act of gratitude. At the end of a loved one’s life, we lift up to God our thanks. That gratitude certainly is directed to the good things that God has poured into the life of his deceased servant. There are many gifts and graces that mark our lives, beginning with the very gift of life itself. The ritual directs homilists to speak about how the mystery of Christ worked in the life of the deceased. That is, of course, the great gift that needs both recognition and heartfelt thanksgiving.

Another significant feature of the funeral Mass includes prayers for the deceased. The practice of praying for the dead is common but often not well understood. Why do we pray for the dead? The prayer that we make is clear and focused. We pray that they may be ready to be received by the Lord and see him face to face.

Many of us die with loose ends and unfinished business in our lives.

We stand in need of purification, of being readied, to be able to see the God of absolute love face to face.

The teaching about purgatory, a

Natalie Battaglia Photography

What is special about Catholic funerals?

hope-filled journey of purification, is exactly about that. And we the living as well as those who have already entered the heavenly kingdom can pray for those who go through this process of purification. We ask the Lord to make them ready and to receive them quickly.

The last and the most important element of the funeral Mass is a resounding affirmation of our faith and hope. The words of Scripture and the prayers of the Mass focus us on our faith in the power of the Risen Lord who brings us to new life and is the source of our hope. These are the powerful words of the liturgy that express this faith and hope: In Christ our Lord the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned, that those saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come.

Indeed, for your faithful, Lord, life is changed, not ended, and when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.

Father Louis J. Cameli, STD, is the cardinal’s delegate for Christian formation and mission for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

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PATRON SAINTS

BY FATHER LOUIS J. CAMELI, STD

The parish of St. Moses the Black is located on Chicago’s South Side at 71st and Calumet.

The parish patron is a fascinating figure who deserves to be more widely known. fabricated under social compulsion Moses, a Black African, was born in Nubia in the fourth century. Contem- in ‘the world.’ They sought a way to God that was uncharted and freely poraries report that he was a giant of chosen, not inherited from others a man endowed with great strength. who had mapped it out beforehand.

He was also enslaved. At a certain They sought a God whom they point, Moses (like his namesake in alone could find, not one who was the book of Exodus) murdered a ‘given’ in a set stereotyped form by man. His master banished him, and Saint Moses the Black icon, 15th century somebody else.” he joined a gang of 75 robbers and Back to St. Moses. His converpillagers who terrified communities sion and his embrace of the monastic awareness of sin and forgiveness in the Nile valley of Egypt. molded his outlook and behavior. life in the desert did not signal an After a robbery gone wrong, The story is taken from the Christian end to his struggles. He continued to Moses sought refuge with a colony of spiritual classic The Sayings of the monks in Scetis in the Egyptian desert grapple with temptation in his life.

Desert Fathers.

At one point, he confessed to Abba and near the city of Alexandria. His “A brother at Scetis committed a Isidore a torturous temptation to forencounter with the monks, who radifault. A council was called to which nication. With the guidance of Abba ated a kind of peace and dedication Abba Moses was invited, but he reIsidore, Moses stayed the course and he had never known, had a powerful impact on him. In fact, his experience moved forward. Similarly, his violent fused to go to it. Then the priest sent someone to say to him, ‘Come, for evand confrontational past did not with the monks led him to abandon eryone is waiting for you.’ So, he got completely abandon him. One day his old way of life, be baptized, and up and went. He took a leaking jug, robbers came to the monastery, and join them. In time, these monks and filled it with water and carried it with he thrashed them and later brought corresponding groups of women him. The others came out to meet them to the other monks. In fact, came to be known as the Fathers and him and said to him, ‘What is this, they, too, became members of the Mothers of the Desert. They repreFather?’ The old man said to them, community. In the process, Moses sented a strong spiritual movement ‘My sins run out behind me, and I do moved to live in a nonviolent way. from the third through the fifth cennot see them, and today I am coming Moses grew, and he changed. turies that was dedicated to living the to judge the errors of another.’ When Eventually, under the guidance Christian life in a radical form. they heard that, they said no more to of Abba Isidore, he was ordained What were these men and the brother but forgave him.” a priest. He grew in wisdom, the women looking for as they went out St. Moses, in the end, is not only a wisdom for which the Desert Fathers into the desert? The great 20thsaint of great wisdom who drew from were famous. In his case, wisdom century writer and Trappist monk Thomas Merton says this about them stemmed particularly from his steady his profound experience of God’s grace and forgiveness; he also reveals in his book The Wisdom of the Desert: awareness that he was a forgiven our capacity, enabled by God’s grace, sinner. That consciousness shaped “What the Fathers sought most of all to be completely transformed. In was their own true self, in Christ. And his interactions with others. There that he is a most remarkable saint of is a famous story about him that in order to do this, they had to reject undying hope. illustrates how deeply his personal completely the false, formal self, 6

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Public domain. St. Sophia Cathedral, Novgorod Museum.

St. Moses the Black

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FEATURE STORY

PROMISES AND PATHWAYS TO HAPPINESS IN A TROUBLED WORLD

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LUMEN | Summer 2026 | annualcatholicappeal.com

BY FATHER LOUIS J. CAMELI, STD

Everyone wants to be happy.

And yet, we seem to suffer a pandemic of discontent, melancholy and dissatisfaction.

The rich and famous, no less than the poor and struggling, cannot claim to be happy, and certainly, not fully satisfied. The pursuit of happiness along the pathways of acquiring money, power, prestige, and position all turn out to be dead ends in the long term.

There is a terrible mismatch between what we so deeply desire and what we are able to achieve. We are destined, it seems, to be forever frustrated. We can never reach what we really want. Across history, different schools of philosophy and various religious traditions have sought to address this riddle of human existence. Our own Christian tradition that draws on the teachings of Jesus offers a remarkable and realistic take on the possibility of happiness.

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FEATURE STORY (cont.)

It starts at the very beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. Mark describes that beginning: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’” (Mark 1:14–15) The coming of that kingdom means that God is reclaiming his sovereignty in this broken and wounded world and that he is bringing us into a fulfillment that exceeds anything that we can imagine or hope for. It is surely God’s kingdom, but it is also our true and lasting happiness.

A note of realism colors the promise of the kingdom.

Although this kingdom is at hand or coming, it has not fully arrived. In Jesus Christ, God’s kingdom has begun its irrevocable entrance and claim on our world. But still we pray “thy Kingdom come,” because it has not fully taken hold of our lives and our world. The kingdom is ahead of us. In the meantime, God invites us to accept that kingdom and its claims. God also invites us to make a pathway for the full coming of the kingdom by living our lives well and making our world ready through our works of mercy, compassion, justice, peace, and — above all — love.

The beatitudes, especially as we find them in chapter five of St. Matthew’s gospel, give us specific pathways for welcoming God’s kingdom and finding our true and lasting happiness. The beatitudes, as we will see, are promises about the future, but they are clearly and realistically grounded in human experience as we know it right now, in this moment.

Each of the eight beatitudes begins, “blessed are …”

These words translate the original Greek makarios, which can mean blessed or fortunate or — more specifically to our concern — happy. The beatitudes then give us a key to claiming the kingdom of God and our happy fulfillment in that kingdom. The first four beatitudes identify significant human experiences now, and then project into the future and a much different experience. The second four beatitudes focus more on ways of living life now, and then project into a reconfigured future. We can consider each beatitude and begin to explore the meaning and possibilities of happiness.

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Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

When we recognize our fundamental poverty, our basic inability to marshal the resources to control our lives and determine the outcomes that we so desire, then things open for us. The kingdom of heaven, which is to say God’s kingdom, is not something we can lay hold of. It belongs to those who recognize and live by their dependence on God, not on their own resources.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

All of us are touched by loss or some grief or pain. Our instinct is to fill up the void left by the loss with something or to somehow escape the consequent grief and pain.

When we mourn in faith, when we realistically accept the loss and hold it in God’s providence, we come to know that it is not the last word. Our God will indeed comfort us and lift us up in ways that we cannot imagine.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

The meek are not merely passive bystanders in life. They do not, however, push themselves into life’s affairs with a drive to control outcomes and establish their own supremacy. The meek — again in faith — keep watch and listen. They allow God’s designs to emerge in this world.

Because of this, they will indeed inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

The hunger or deep desire for righteousness is a longing for justice accompanied by truth and mercy. That justice leads to genuine peace. Those who translate their hunger and thirst for righteousness into action in the great and small gestures of their lives will find fulfillment.

And beyond fulfillment of their desire, they will find themselves in God’s kingdom of righteousness.

The last four beatitudes describe ways of living that capture even now, as we make our earthly journey, our future in the kingdom of God. They are both expressions and pathways of God’s kingdom. We are invited to embrace and commit ourselves to these ways of living.

Private collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg

Meekness, Justice, Mercy by Eustache Le Sueur (French, 1617–1655), from the Eight Beatitudes series, 1650.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

In God’s kingdom, mercy and compassion reign supreme.

It could not be otherwise, because we have come to know our God as the all-merciful one. When we extend mercy and compassion to others, we anticipate the life of the kingdom. Even more, we will receive in greater measure what we have given. God’s mercy is not earned, deserved or merited. It is sheer grace, a gift. Our merciful living must move in that same direction in our dealings with others.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Who are the pure or clean of heart? They are the ones who live honestly, transparently. They prize truth, and they avoid anything that would obscure it. They are focused on the one necessary thing, their service to the Lord.

Their hearts are not cluttered, distracted, or moving in a thousand different directions. Their hearts are pure and simple. Living in this way prepares them for their full life in the kingdom of God, where they will see their Lord face to face.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. From the moment that sin entered the world through the sin of our first parents, God has been reconciling himself with humanity, making peace with those he created. In his love for us, he cannot let us be alienated from him and from each other. So, he

makes peace endlessly until we are fully reconciled.

Peacemakers imitate their Creator as they seek reconciliation. They truly are children of God and happy sharers in his kingdom.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Those who are persecuted endure suffering and insult. There is no happiness or blessedness in that passive endurance. The true blessing and the promised happiness flow from active persistence and perseverance in the face of persecution and suffering. That is faithful endurance. It expresses and ever-purer love and opens a pathway to full entrance into the kingdom of God. We began with an important question: Is happiness within reach in this broken world? We then turned to Jesus, who preached the beatitudes, promises and pathways that lead to true happiness. As we reflect on the beatitudes, things become clearer. The movement to true happiness coincides with moving beyond our often self-enclosed egos, accepting in freedom our responsibility to act, loving others, and entrusting ourselves to the mystery of God even when life hurts. Our movement to true and full happiness in the future in the kingdom of God can and does coexist with suffering now. Still, we continue to move forward because of the power of his reliable word of promise.

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OUR MINISTRIES

Natalie Battaglia Photography

Building bridges through friendship, service and faith Many parishes throughout the archdiocese have a long archdiocese, the Big Shoulders Fund, and other supporters to provide history of sharing their resources as a way to pair betterresourced parishes with those needing support. As St. Anne essential funding needed to keep the school operating. “St. Anne’s Parish in Barrington celebrates the 50th anniversary of generosity became a significant part its Sharing Parish Ministry next year, board chair Bill Sneed of the plan that allowed us to keep the school open,” said Jackson. reflects on the importance it has had in the life of the “This isn’t their parish, and yet they church.

“This ministry has given us the opportunity to create a caring and deep relationship with both St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero and St. Moses the Black Parish on Chicago’s South Side,” he said recently. “It’s allowed us to share not only our time and resources, but also create a relationship based on understanding, friendship, and mutual respect.”

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When the parishes of St. Frances of Rome in Cicero and St. Mary of Celle in Berwyn merged in 2021 to form St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds, its school, St. Frances of Rome School, faced possible closure.

Its new principal, Phil Jackson, was relieved to learn of the long-standing relationship the school had with St. Anne’s Church.

St. Anne joined with the

LUMEN | Summer 2026 | annualcatholicappeal.com

chose to invest in our students and our future. To have people outside our parish care enough about this community to step up and provide so much support has made all the difference.”

A cornerstone of their partnership with the school is a weekly tutoring program where St. Anne parishioners travel to Cicero to work one on one with students, primarily in the early grades. “We

BY CARLA BEECHER

Natalie Battaglia Photography

gathering with a ballet folklórico. six members spent a Saturday at usually have four or five volunteers St. Moses the Black painting and going down each week, some of them “It was a real celebration that was very well attended and thoroughly patching rooms in a former rectory retired teachers,” Sneed said. enjoyed,” added Sneed. being prepared for retired nuns.

Volunteer Cheryl Grelle, who Another group of volunteers Patrick Finn, who led the group, said grew up in Barrington and spent at St. Anne’s is led by Peggy Hirsch, the project grew directly out of the most of her life at St. Anne’s — a former chair of the ministry and sharing parish relationship. “We attending church, teaching in its current board liaison to St. Moses spent the day painting and patching school for 24 years, and even getting the Black Parish. Under Hirsch’s bedrooms and hallways,” he said. “At married there 59 years ago — said its core, the group is about getting that after she retired, volunteering as leadership, between 20 and 30 volunteers from St. Anne’s support men together to know each other a tutor felt like coming home. better outside of Mass and then Grelle works a half day each week St. Moses the Black’s Wednesday food pantry by collecting and doing something meaningful with with first- and second-graders who our time.” struggle with reading. “I spend about delivering food.

St. Anne’s also organizes a spring For nearly 50 years now, St. a half hour with each student,” she Anne’s Sharing Parish Ministry said. “That one-on-one time matters. and fall clothing drive for the parish. has helped narrow the distance It lets me focus on exactly what each “There’s dignity in what you give to people,” Hirsch said, noting that between communities by building child needs. strong, lasting relationships rooted “Sometimes the progress is slow,” donated items are carefully selected and sorted. For her, the motivation is in faith and service. Through she continued. “But sometimes simple: “I’ve been so fortunate in my consistent presence — showing up there’s an aha moment right away. life,” she said. “What are we here on week after week — parishioners Even a small difference is worth it. earth to do if not help our fellow have formed connections that I’m not working miracles, but I’m man?” go beyond programs or projects. helping. Volunteering gives me That same spirit of shared In walking alongside its partner purpose, satisfaction, and the joy of service recently brought St. Anne’s communities, St. Anne’s has lived out staying connected to learning.”

Guys’ Group (STAGG) into the the archdiocese’s call to share time, Principal Jackson has seen the sharing parish work. Last November, talent, and treasure. impact of volunteers’ commitment firsthand. Over time, he said, the results have been clear.

“They take the students with the lowest test scores and work with them individually, week after week, focusing on foundational skills in math and reading,” he said.

“That kind of consistent, personal attention makes a real difference.

These children are no longer falling through the cracks — they’re gaining confidence, they’re moving up, and they’re getting the support they need to succeed.”

The relationship between the two parishes also brought parishioners from St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds to Barrington last fall to share a Mass and a meal Above: St. Anne Parish volunteer Cheryl Grelle tutors St. Frances of Rome School together — with students from first-grader Olivia. Left: Sharing Parish Ministry board chair Bill Sneed also volunteers the school entertaining the large as a tutor at St. Frances of Rome School. He is pictured with fourth-grader Santiago.

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CAMPAIGN UPDATE

BY CARLA BEECHER

From underdogs to one united parish Natalie Battaglia Photography

How trust, mission and inclusion fuel the campaign When Father Thadeo Mgimba arrived on Chicago’s West Side during the uncertainty of the pandemic, he inherited more than aging buildings and limited resources: He stepped into a community still learning how to become one.

What had once been two parishes — St. Martin de Porres in the Austin neighborhood and St. Agatha in North Lawndale — had officially united in 2022 under the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Renew My Church process. A year later, the newly formed parish was given a shared name, St. Simon of Cyrene Parish, while each church retained its historic identity. On paper, the merger was complete. In practice, healing divisions and building trust would take time.

Stewardship is not just about dollars raised, but about people empowered to build the Church together, generation to generation.

By the time the parish entered Phase II of the Generation to Generation campaign, Father Thadeo saw an opportunity not just to raise funds but also to strengthen 14

the bonds of a small but deeply committed African American Catholic community.

“From a Catholic perspective, we are a small parish,” he explained. “But in the African American context, a parish of 300 people is significant.

Catholicism is not historically common in our community. The people who are here are deeply invested.”

That investment became clear as the parish discerned its campaign priorities. Both church sites faced a practical but pressing challenge: parking. One location owned a parking lot that had never undergone repaving, while the other needed to acquire adjacent city property to serve a growing congregation. Without adequate parking, parishioners — especially seniors and families — struggled to attend Mass and parish events.

“This wasn’t about convenience,” Father Thadeo said. “It was about survival and future vitality.”

Still, he knew that asking for financial support required more than identifying donors with the capacity to give. The standard fundraising

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model encouraged him to focus on major donors — those who already gave the most money. But Father Thadeo believed that definition was too narrow.

“In our parish, generosity shows up in different ways,” he said. “Some people give money. Others give time.

Others give talent. All of them are major donors.”

So, he took an unconventional approach. Instead of a single donor dinner, the parish hosted three. The first invited those known for their financial support. The second and third honored parishioners whose primary contributions were service and leadership — choir members, volunteers, organizers, and behindthe-scenes leaders with no official titles.

“That second dinner changed everything,” he recalled. “People felt seen. They felt included. And when people know they matter, they give according to their ability.”

Beyond the dinners, Father Thadeo focused on transparency and presence. He spoke openly from the pulpit about the parish’s needs,

Natalie Battaglia Photography

Parishioners bring the offertory to Father Mgimba before the Eucharistic Prayer.

CAMPAIGN PROGRESS Father Thadeo is quick to downplay the word “success.”

Compared to larger parishes, the funds raised were modest. But expectations had been low, and the journey itself became a sign of grace.

“We were the underdogs,” he said. addressed concerns rooted in past “Many people didn’t think we could do campaigns, and answered questions this. The fact that we did is a blessing.” directly. He also pointed to his For Father Thadeo, fundraising own record. is not separate from priestly “I told the community of faith, ministry. A former missionary, he ‘Judge me by what I’ve done since I sees it as deeply biblical. arrived,’” he said. “‘If I haven’t kept “Saint Paul raised money to my promises, then don’t trust me. support other churches,” he noted.

But if you’ve seen results, be assured “A pastor who says money doesn’t that this will happen, too.’” matter probably already has plenty of Just as important was it. Collections support the mission — empowering trusted parish leaders feeding the hungry, serving the com— those informal voices people munity, keeping the church alive.” naturally turn to for reassurance.

Today, St. Simon of Cyrene By bringing them into the process Parish continues to grow not only early, Father Thadeo ensured that in resources but also in unity. What conversations continued well beyond began as a capital campaign became official meetings. a communal act of faith — a reminder “These leaders without titles that stewardship is not just about carry enormous influence,” he said. dollars raised but also about people “When they believe in the vision, the empowered to build the Church parish believes.” together, generation to generation.

“These leaders without titles carry enormous influence.

When they believe in the vision, the parish believes.”

As of March 26, 2026, the $300 million Generation to Generation campaign has raised $261,979,575 of its goal, with 19,700 households pledging an average of $225/month.

The campaign is focused on four critical areas for growth: • Strengthening local parishes • Igniting spiritual renewal • Supporting our priests • Aiding vulnerable communities

$300,000,000 $261,979,575

100% 87%

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SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

SMALL STEPS TOGETHER The journey to spiritual renewal In conversations about parish life, it’s easy to measure success by what is visible: new programs launched, ministries added, staff expanded, calendars filled. But quietly, a different question is at the center of the work of spiritual renewal: Are we actually changing culture, or are we just adding and running more programs and ministries?

The answer matters. Additions are often welcome — they can be planned, implemented, and checked off within a defined period of time. But changing or even discontinuing existing programs can feel uncomfortable. Yet when such changes are pursued — and grounded in a deep understanding of the vision of renewal and the community’s needs — they can spark a lasting culture shift.

That shift is quietly taking place at St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Oak Lawn, a co-implementation 16

parish that receives on-the-ground day-to-day implementation support from the archdiocese to nurture transformational renewal.

These types of experiences are possible because of the congeniality and cohesiveness of St. Catherine’s senior leadership team. Their openness creates an appetite for early change, and they feel supported as they establish and grow a culture of evangelization.

One such opportunity presented itself through a practice instituted in 2024, when Father Matthew Litak

LUMEN | Summer 2026 | annualcatholicappeal.com

arrived at St. Catherine’s. Weekly staff prayer and intentions in the adoration chapel became part of the parish’s rhythm. One staff member spoke with gratitude about “the opportunity to spend time in adoration of the blessed sacrament,” seeing in it a sign of Father Matt’s care for his people and his conviction that renewal must be centered on prayer.

The connection was clear: Prayer and the vision for spiritual renewal could not be separated, even if that renewal would take months — or years — to fully unfold. “Parish renewal is important to all of us at St. Catherine of Alexandria,” Father Matt said. “We know that the Holy Spirit transforms hearts, whether you are a longtime parishioner or someone who is simply curious about faith. As disciples, we are here to share the gifts and blessings of Christ.”

Megan Daigle is part of the parish’s co-implementation team.

BY MAGGIE BAHLER

leadership, and liturgical roles.

She sought opportunities to deepen her own discipleship by sharing her faith, which she knew would be transformative. Daigle sensed that Theresa was ready to embody the vision of renewal in a concrete way. Together, they turned their attention to the parish communication channels, which are

Natalie Battaglia Photography

As a communications coordinator, she connected with parish leaders and staff to understand their communications needs, their habits, and their hopes — while accompanying them on a journey of spiritual renewal. Daigle understood the importance of communication as one part of the overall vision of renewal. She quickly noticed

Father Matthew Litak and Megan Daigle.

that the parish’s communications channels reflected a busy parish full of announcements, events, and opportunities, but did not yet communicate “the depth and breadth of love the community had for each other and for Christ.”

Parish secretary and bulletin editor Theresa Ready was open to rethinking the impact of all parish communications. Theresa felt a strong personal call to evangelization and spiritual renewal. She has been a lifelong parishioner at St. Catherine’s and also volunteered for many years in maintenance,

a core component of Theresa’s daily work and a shared point of contact for nearly every parishioner.

“The work we do as a support team is only possible because God has been here ahead of us and is powerfully present in the hearts of each person I meet in this parish,” Daigle said.

Inspired by Daigle said’s curiosity, guidance, and support, Theresa began making gradual changes. What emerged were channels that invited intentional reflection. Photos of parishioners in service were paired with short

reflections on the spiritual gift of giving. School news was revamped to include renewal messaging, and revised formatting of all the channels encouraged contemplation of the parish’s invitation to grow, lead, serve, and worship.

These seemingly small changes clearly communicated the shift to a culture of evangelization.

Parishioners were directly invited to serve those on the margins, deepen their prayer life, and lead ministries — old and new. Sacramental preparation and community celebrations grew from simple informational posts to meaningful moments of reflection and invitation to connect in Christian fellowship.

This transformation is evident throughout the parish — whether through communications, the adoration chapel, or small faithsharing groups. These small groups provide an opportunity to build deep relationships with each other and Christ and make a lasting impact on the participants as they create a sense of welcoming and belonging — core elements of building a culture of evangelization.

This story offers a quiet but powerful lesson. Culture change does not always begin with large initiatives. Sometimes it begins with listening closely, honoring existing gifts, and trusting that even small adjustments can open space for the Holy Spirit to work.

As we look ahead, becoming more attuned to these moments of transformation may be one of the most important things to consider.

Look for opportunities to change or adjust current tools, remain open to incremental changes that can make a difference, and step into leadership together as an engaged community.

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DONOR STORY

“The archdiocese is deeply grateful that Kathy continues to honor her mother’s memory through her generosity. It is a beautiful tribute, and her ongoing commitment ensures that her mother’s legacy lives on by making a meaningful difference across our parishes and schools.”

Jose Piñones, director of giving

Continuing a legacy of faith and service When Kathy Chappell reflects on the life of her mother, Dr. Lucy Chappell, one word comes quickly to mind: determination.

“My mother was a dynamo,” Kathy said. “If she made up her mind about something, it was going to get done.”

That determination shaped a lifetime of service to Chicago’s most vulnerable residents and continues today through the faith and generosity of her daughter.

Dr. Chappell, who died in 2024 at age 99, built a remarkable career in social work and mental health advocacy. Beginning in 1969, she became known as a hands-on social worker who actively sought out people who had fallen through the cracks of the system — individuals whose mental, emotional, or physical disabilities left them without the support they needed.

Her work soon drew wider recognition. She was appointed executive director of the Lawndale Mental Health Center on Chicago’s West Side, where hundreds of residents were not receiving basic services. Under her leadership, the center expanded its outreach and care. In 1972, the program earned the Francis J. Gerty Award for the best-operated mental health center in Illinois.

Dr. Chappell later served as regional director overseeing nine mental health clinics across Chicago, and in 1984, she became director of the Bobby E. Wright Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center.

During her tenure there, the center’s programs grew dramatically — from 11 to 32 in just three years.

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Yet one basic unmet need weighed heavily on her heart: safe housing for adults with developmental disabilities.

For years, she pursued funding to build a residential facility where individuals with special needs could live with dignity and stability. Persistence finally paid off when she secured support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 1992, a 40unit apartment building opened in Chicago to serve developmentally challenged adults and their families.

The Dr. Lucy Chappell Housing Complex for the Developmentally Challenged and Special Needs Population is one of the few facilities in Chicago that was named for a living person and the only one named for an African American woman.

But to Kathy, the seeds of that lifelong mission began much earlier.

“As a child growing up in Florida, my mother saw people with developmental challenges being ignored or ridiculed. She told me that when she was only 9 years old, she gave away most of her weekly 10-cent allowance to buy treats for those who had nothing.

“She told her parents then that if she was ever in a position to help people like that, she would,” Kathy said. “And she carried that promise with her throughout her life.”

BY CARLA BEECHER

Photo provided by family.

and Pope Francis because she recognized their God-given talent and their extraordinary spiritual expertise.”

She recalled that someone at the archdiocese had sent her mother a photo of Cardinal Cupich with Pope Francis, “So she placed it right in front of her where she ate her meals. She prayed for them every day.”

Kathy said her mother followed the life of the Church closely and would have been thrilled by the election of Pope Leo XIV. “She would have absolutely loved that he’s from the South Side, and that he’s a Chicago Bears fan.

She was an absolute diehard Bears fan.

“Supporting the Church was her way of helping others,” she continued. “She believed that if you have blessings, you share them.”

The Chappell family lived that faith in daily life. Lucy’s husband, Roy Chappell — a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen who later became a Chicago educator — shared her commitment to service. Together, they raised two daughters in a home where faith and Roy and Lucy Chappell compassion were lived out by example.

“Growing up, you just saw it,” Kathy says.

“They didn’t just talk about faith. They lived it.”

Faith was the foundation that guided that promise.

Today, she is carrying that legacy forward.

Dr. Chappell grew up Catholic, and despite A retired professor from Yale and DePaul experiencing the painful reality of segregated churches universities, she remains active at St. Moses the Black in the South, her love for the Church never wavered.

Parish. Kathy is continuing her mother’s commitment “Her faith was first and foremost in her life,” Kathy to the Annual Catholic Appeal and the Lumen Cordium said. “Whenever she faced challenges, she prayed.”

Society, ensuring the ministries her mother valued That faith eventually brought Dr. Chappell into continue to flourish. deeper involvement with the Archdiocese of Chicago.

“She introduced me to all of it,” Kathy says. “It was When her parish church closed about 15 years ago, she part of her desire to give back.” searched for a new spiritual home and “interviewed” Kathy’s own spiritual journey has deepened in recent the pastor of St. Moses the Black Parish (then St. years through pilgrimages to Italy and Greece. Those Columbanus Church) before becoming a member of the experiences became especially meaningful after her church. mother’s death in 2024.

“She brought her notebook with everything she had “The grief was very hard,” Kathy admits. “When done and everything she was working on,” Kathy recalled. someone lives that long, you have even more memories.”

“She told the pastor her whole story and then started Yet those memories now guide her forward. In her asking him questions. She said, ‘I’m not going to just join parish, in the ministries supported by the archdiocese, a church and sit in the pew; I want to know what’s going and in the lives touched through the Church’s outreach, on and what I can be involved in.’”

Kathy sees the continuation of the work her mother Grateful for her blessings, Lucy began supporting believed in so deeply. the Annual Catholic Appeal and later joined the Lumen “My parents lived their faith by example,” she said.

Cordium Society, which recognizes donors who make “And that’s what I try to do, too. If you want to inspire lasting commitments to the Church’s mission. someone, the best way is to live it.”

“My mom had so much respect for Cardinal Cupich 19

GIVING SOCIETIES

LUMEN CORDIUM SOCIETY The Lumen Cordium Society is a special alliance of Catholic men and women who take a leadership role in the work of the Church. As a member, your generosity sets an example of good stewardship as you reach out with love to people and ministries in need of your assistance. While the satisfaction derived from advancing the mission of the Church in Chicago is the greatest reward, the benefits described below are intended to convey Cardinal Cupich’s gratitude for your support. If you have any questions, please contact Krista Cobb, coordinator, Annual Catholic Appeal, at 312.534.7615 or kcobb@archchicago.org.

PATRONS Those donating at the $1,500 to $4,999 level will:

• Be remembered in weekly Masses celebrated at

To recognize more of our generous donors who support the work of the Church, the Archdiocese of Chicago recently instituted three more giving societies in addition to our Lumen Cordium Society.

LUMEN LEADERSHIP SOCIETY Cumulative lifetime giving over $100,000 The Lumen Leadership Society honors families and individuals who have made cumulative lifetime gifts totaling $100,000 or more to archdiocese initiatives, including the Annual Catholic Appeal and To Teach Who Christ Is. Members receive recognition and invitations to special events. If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Shea Collins, director of the Annual Catholic Appeal, at 312.534.7944 or bcollins@archchicago.org.

St. James Chapel in the Quigley Pastoral Center

• Receive Lumen magazine twice a year • Be included in the Prayer Intention Book of society members

• Be invited to the annual Mass and reception with Cardinal Cupich

BENEFACTORS Those donating at the $5,000 to $9,999 level will:

• Receive Patrons benefits • Receive a subscription to Chicago Catholic, the

archdiocesan newspaper • Be invited to an annual reception with Cardinal Cupich

LUMEN LOYALIST SOCIETY Loyal support for the Annual Catholic Appeal The Lumen Loyalist Society honors those who have made gifts of $500 or more to the Annual Catholic Appeal every year for 10 years. If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Shea Collins, director of the Annual Catholic Appeal, at 312.534.7944 or bcollins@archchicago.org.

LUMEN LEGACY Those donating at the $10,000 to $24,999 level will: SOCIETY CARDINAL’S CIRCLE

• Receive Benefactors benefits • Be invited to a Christmas reception with Cardinal Cupich

CARDINAL’S GUILD Those donating at the $25,000+ level will:

• Receive Cardinal’s Circle benefits • Be invited to a special VIP reception

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Planned gifts The Lumen Legacy Society honors individuals who have included a gift to the archdiocese — or one of its parishes, schools or ministries — in their estate plans through a will, trust, retirement account or other financial asset.

Membership is also extended to those who establish a gift annuity or name the Annual Catholic Appeal as a beneficiary in their estate plan. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa M. Babcock at 312.534.8197 or mbabcock@archchicago.org.

DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS

2025 Annual Catholic Appeal

HOW YOUR GIFT WAS USED $

7,105,873

Low-income parishes and schools

Support for parishes and schools serving financially challenged communities

$

3,673,422

Parish-based incentives

After a parish reaches its goal, donated funds are returned to the parish for local use

$

899,259

Archdiocesan ministries

Outreach initiatives for young adults, families, children and others

$

251,080

Spiritual renewal efforts

Transforming parishes to share our faith in new and creative ways

$

1,275,629

Priest formation

Education and development for seminarians and priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago

$

749,680

Scholarships

Tuition assistance for disadvantaged Catholic school families

$

545,000

Catholic Relief Services

Support for those suffering from natural disasters around the world

$

14,499,943

MINISTRIES TOTAL

$

825,892

Cost of the Appeal

$

15,325,836

TOTAL APPEAL

Printing, postage and processing costs for the Appeal

This chart shows how your Annual Catholic Appeal funds were used in 2025 to support these many initiatives and programs.

Low-income parishes and schools 46% Parish-based incentives 24% Spiritual renewal efforts 2% Priest formation 8% Scholarships 5% Archdiocesan ministries 6%

The Annual Catholic Appeal supports the work of the Church in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

No money donated to the Annual Catholic Appeal has been or will be used to defray expenses related to misconduct issues.

Catholic Relief Services 4% Cost of the Appeal 5%

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PLANNED GIVING

A LEGACY OF FAITH Giving through donor-advised funds

For generations, Catholics have understood that giving is not merely a financial transaction — it is an expression of faith. From the widow’s mite to the shared loaves and fishes, Scripture reminds us that generosity, offered prayerfully, can multiply far beyond what we imagine. Today, as families seek thoughtful and flexible ways to support our mission, one increasingly popular tool is the donoradvised fund.

You may choose to recommend a A donor-advised fund, or DAF, one-time gift to address an urgent is a charitable giving tool that allows need or establish a recurring donors to combine favorable tax benefits with remarkable flexibility — monthly or quarterly grant to sustain a ministry over time,” said Brendan making it easier than ever to support Keating, chief development officer. a parish, school, ministry, or the “While donor-advised funds cannot Archdiocese of Chicago itself. be used to fulfill legally binding At its heart, a donor-advised pledges, donors may attach a special fund is about intention. You purpose to their contribute assets grants, helping — often cash or appreciated Perhaps the most meaningful ensure that their gifts align with stock — into the aspect of a donor-advised their values and fund, receive an fund is the opportunity priorities. immediate tax “Just as benefit, and then it offers to create a lasting importantly,” recommend legacy of faith.

Keating grants over time continued, to the charitable “donor-advised funds invite families causes closest to your heart. into deeper conversations about For many Catholics, this means faith and stewardship. Parents and supporting parish life, Catholic grandparents can involve children education, social service ministries, and grandchildren in recommending and outreach efforts that bring grants, teaching them why giving Christ’s love to the more than two matters and how generosity million Catholics and community strengthens the Church and the members across Cook and Lake counties. wider community. Some families “One of the great strengths of a even form ‘giving circles,’ pooling donor-advised fund is its flexibility. resources with friends or relatives 22

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BY MELISSA M. BABCOCK

to amplify their impact and build a shared sense of mission.”

Beyond their convenience, donor-advised funds can also be a powerful part of thoughtful financial stewardship. By contributing appreciated stock to a DAF, donors may avoid capital gains taxes while supporting the Church’s work.

Others choose to bundle charitable gifts — making several years’ worth of donations at once — to potentially itemize deductions in a single year. These practical benefits can make giving both simpler and more sustainable.

Yet perhaps the most meaningful aspect of a donor-advised fund is the opportunity it offers to create a lasting legacy of faith. When you establish or update your fund, you may designate what happens to any remaining balance after your lifetime. Many Catholics choose to name their parish, a favorite ministry, or the Archdiocese of Chicago as a beneficiary — either in full or in part — while leaving the remaining portion to their children or grandchildren. In doing so, they ensure that their values endure and that future generations continue a tradition of generosity.

If you would like to learn more about giving through a donoradvised fund or about creating a legacy gift that reflects your faith, the Archdiocese of Chicago’s stewardship team is ready to help.

Together, we can explore easy and meaningful ways to make an impact — now and for generations to come.

QUESTIONS For questions about donor-advised fund gifts, please contact the Archdiocese of Chicago at 312.534.7959 or giving@archchicago.org.

Secure Extra Income

For Yourself and the Church Charitable Gift Annuity

A gift annuity with the Archdiocese of Chicago offers you fixed payments for life and a way to support the Church.

How It Works

• Make a gift of $10,000 or more using cash, appreciated securities or a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA.

• Receive fixed payments for life for yourself or a loved one age 60 or older; a portion of each payment is tax-free (through life expectancy).

• Receive an income tax deduction for a portion of your gift, per IRS rules.

• Reduce capital gains tax liability for gifts of appreciated securities.

• Satisfy annual required minimum distributions from your IRA with a QCD gift if you are 73 or older.

• Designate the remaining funds to support your parish, school, ministry or the archdiocese.

Gift Annuity Rates for One-Life* Age

60

65

70

75

80

85

90 +

Rate

5.2%

5.7%

6.3%

7%

8.1%

9.1%

10.1%

Scan QR code to learn more about charitable gift annuities.

*Effective January 1, 2025. Rates are subject to change.

To receive a free, no-obligation illustration of how you could benefit from a charitable gift annuity, contact Melissa M. Babcock at 312.534.8197 or mbabcock@archchicago.org.

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NONPROFIT Lumen Cordium Society 835 North Rush Street Chicago, IL 60611-2030 tel 312.534.7959 annualcatholicappeal.com

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Learn more about the sacraments of the Church at pvm.archchicago.org/ sacraments or scan the QR code.

Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic

At Easter, in parishes all over our archdiocese, the Holy Spirit led more than a thousand people into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through the Sacraments of Initiation. “We continue to be blessed by the Holy Spirit and the growth of our local Church,” said Todd Williamson, director of the Office for Divine Worship.