VOL. 70, NO. 2
WWW.CROOKSTON.ORG
JANUARY 27, 2016
Video debuted for 2016 Diocesan Annual Appeal Priests and parish representatives attend kickoff event to prepare for fundraising By Katrina Genereux Staff Writer, OND
During the first weekend of February, the 2016 Diocesan Annual Appeal (DAA) campaign will officially begin in the Diocese of Crookston. To prepare for the kickoff, priests and DAA captains from parishes around the diocese gathered for dinner and presentations on Jan. 19. The evening was sponsored by the Office of Stewardship and Development and took place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston. The kickoff event is held each year to prepare priests and parish DAA captains for the appeal as well as distribute the materials for the campaign. “Tonight was a nice gathering of folks from the wider Church,” said Father John Cox, OMI. Father Cox is pastor at St. Ann’s, Waubun; St. Anne’s, Naytahwaush and St. Frances Cabrini, Big Elbow Lake. He said the people from his parishes who attend the event look forward to seeing representatives from other parishes throughout the diocese. “It helps give us a sense of the Church as bigger than the local parish,” he said. This year, those present for the DAA kickoff event were the first to see the 2016 DAA video. The video features messages from Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner, Vicar General Msgr. Michael Foltz and Bonnie Sullivan, Chancellor and Secretary for the Office of Vocations, regarding our seminarians and the programs and ministries made possible by the DAA. The idea of creating a video to launch the annual appeal came out of a meeting held last
INSIDE VOL. 70, NO. 2:
Father John Christianson shares stories from his first months of priesthood before dinner at the DAA kickoff event.
Priests and DAA captains from parishes around the diocese view the 2016 DAA video during the kickoff event for this year’s campaign. The event took place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Jan 19. (Photos credit: Janelle C. Gergen/OND)
September. A group of DAA captains and priests met with Msgr. Foltz and members of the Office of Stewardship and Development to discuss how the DAA is presented to the people in the pews. Members of the group suggested a video might be a more dynamic way to introduce the DAA rather than reading a letter from Bishop Hoeppner to the congregation. Michelle and Tom Kostrze-
wski of Assumption, Florian, are first time DAA captains for their parish. “I thought the video was very informative and interesting; it really caught your attention,” Michelle said. Tom thinks the video will be more interesting and relatable than the usual letter. Fred Houdek of St. Michael’s, Mahnomen, was also in attendance at the DAA kickoff event. He believes the movie is
Pg. 3 - Letter from Diocesan Superintendent Pg. 7 - CCHD Grants Awarded Pg. 8 - Prioress Installed at Mount St. Benedict
Father Bryan Kujawa speaks about his love for the priesthood during the DAA kickoff event.
more personable than a letter. Houdek and his wife, Sharon, have served as their parish DAA captains for five years. They were also part of the group that provided recommendations for presenting the DAA. He said that since Bishop Hoeppner cannot make a personal appearance in every parish on the same weekend, the video allows the Christian faithful to see him. “I think a lot of our faithful don’t realize how many servic-
es are provided to us that are not income producing … this Church belongs to all of us,” said Father Cox. “Crookston isn’t just some place we send our money,” said Houdek. “The video might help make that connection. … Hopefully making a connection will help people give with more cheerful hearts.” “We are very hopeful it is going to be a good tool for all of you to use,” said Reathel Giannonatti, JD, Director of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Crookston. “We are hoping it is something you will be able to use in your parishes.” The video will be made available to all parishes throughout the Diocese of Crookston for playing on the weekend of Feb. 6-7. It can also be viewed online by visiting www.crookston.org/ daa. On Feb. 13-14, parishes will ask their members to turn in their donations and commitment forms for the 2016 DAA. During the kickoff event, Giannonatti provided an encouraging update on the 2015 DAA for the captains and priests in attendance. “We have received over $900,000 this year in gifts so far; that is in large part because of all the work that all of you do,” she said. According to Giannonatti, even with a national trend of declining donors for annual appeals, the Diocese of Crookston gained over 200 new donors during the 2015 DAA. “That really reflects extremely well on how you present to the parish and how you represent the DAA in your parishes,” she said. Dinner guests heard from the two newest priests in the Diocese of Crookston. Father John DAA KICKOFF: Continued on Page 6