Making All Things New
Pastor’s Guide and Leadership Packet
Dear Fr. ____________,
Name of Church(es)
As a leader in your parish, your efforts can greatly contribute to the success of the Annual Diocesan
Appeal. We pray for and look forward to a successful Appeal. Commitment Weekend is Feb. 7th-8th.
Contents of this Leadership Packet






Annual Appeal Calendar
Annual Appeal Presentation Notes for use after communion
Intercessions (Prayers of the Faithful)
Bulletin Announcements
Suggested Priest’s Letter for the bulletin February 14-15
Note: A transcript of Bishop Kettler’s Annual Appeal Message will arrive at a later date,
along with a video and/or audio recording of it.
This information is included to assist in the coordination and promotion of the 2015 Annual Diocesan
Appeal.
All parishioners will receive a letter from Bishop Kettler during the week of February 9th requesting a
proportionate gift that can be fulfilled over the year. If your parish includes envelopes for the Appeal
in your weekly collection envelopes package, you may also receive some gifts from these weekly
collections. If you receive several Appeal envelopes from your collection, please forward the
individual envelopes with the amount of the gift indicated on the outside of the envelope. If you wish
to issue a parish check, please include a list of the individual donors and donated amount to the
address at the bottom of the page. This will allow each household to be properly thanked for its gift.
Above all, thank you for supporting Bishop Kettler’s Annual Diocesan Appeal. As always, your
leadership is an essential element in securing funds for these Ministries Supporting our Lives and
helping to relieve the burden of parish assessments. If you have any questions regarding the Annual
Appeal or the materials enclosed in your packet, please call 320-258-0390.
Sincerely,
Curt Hanson
Director-Office of Development
Annual Appeal  Post Office Box 1538 • St. Cloud, MN 56303 • (320) 258-0390 • www.stclouddiocese.org
2015 Annual Appeal: Making All Things New
Pastor’s Guide and Leadership Packet Page 2
2015 Annual Diocesan Appeal Calendar
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Saturday - Sunday
January 26
27
28
29
30
January 24 - 25
Please use the weekly
Intercession and bulletin
announcement
January 31 - February 1
Please use the weekly
Intercession and bulletin
announcement
February 2
3
4
5
6
February 7 - 8
COMMITMENT WEEKEND
Kick-off
story & ad
Please make your comments,
in The
use DVD/Audio of Bishop’s
Visitor
Message, and the weekly
Intercession and bulletin
announcement
9
10
11
12
13
February 14 - 15
Bishop’s
letter mailed
Please remind parishioners of
to all
the Appeal, and use the weekly
parishioners
Intercession and bulletin
announcement. Suggested
letter from the priest in the
bulletin
16
17
18
19
20
February 21 - 22
Please remind parishioners of
the Appeal, and use the weekly
Intercession and bulletin
announcement
23
March 2
24
3
25
26
Annual
Diocesan
Appeal Ad
in The
Visitor
4
27
February 28 - March 1
Please remind parishioners of
the Appeal, and use the weekly
Intercession and bulletin
announcement
5
6
March 7- 8
Please remind parishioners of
the Appeal, and use the weekly
Intercession and bulletin
announcement
Annual Appeal  Post Office Box 1538 • St. Cloud, MN 56303 • (320) 258-0390 • www.stclouddiocese.org
2015 Annual Appeal: Making All Things New
Pastor’s Guide and Leadership Packet Page 3
Pastor’s Presentation Notes
For Commitment Weekend Masses and Beyond
We hope you find the following information useful as you prepare remarks in support of
the Annual Diocesan Appeal. It is most important, however, to use your own words to
explain the Appeal and to let people know that donation materials will be arriving soon.
The Annual Diocesan Appeal is Bishop Kettler’s appeal for financial support of his diocesan
ministries – ministries that benefit parishes including… (consider ministries you find most
benefit your parish.)
Adult Faith Formation
Catholic Schools
Chancery
Communications
Diaconate
Diocesan Planning
Health Care
Marriage and Family
Men’s Conference
Ministry Formation
Multicultural Ministry
Natural Family Planning
Office of the Bishop
Persons with Ability Differences
Prison Ministries
Religious Ed./Faith Formation
Rural Life
Saint Cloud Visitor
Stewardship & Development
Tribunal
TV Mass
Vocations
Women’s Conference
Worship
Youth Programs & Retreats
Supporting the Annual Diocesan Appeal is important because these ministries serve as a resource
to assist parishes in providing pastoral care to their people.
For example, every parish must provide for religious instruction through religious education
classes and, in some cases, through a parish school. The office of Catholic Education Ministries
serves as a resource for materials, training for instructors, and general education information.
Another example: anyone planning to be married must take a Marriage Preparation Course. The
Office of Marriage and Family presents or oversees Marriage Preparation Courses in six different
locations throughout the Diocese.
The Annual Diocesan Appeal supports services which are broader and more extensive than those
provided by individual parishes. In fact, these are services that no single parish can provide. Your
support is a vital component for “Making All Things New” by encouraging your parishioners’
generosity and prayer for the Appeal’s success. Without your help, this work cannot continue.
(Please include references to your personal experience or that of your parish, if possible.)
During the second week of February, you will receive a letter from Bishop Kettler asking for
your support of the Annual Diocesan Appeal. When your letter arrives, please prayerfully
consider pledging a gift that can be fulfilled over the course of the year.
Thank you!
Annual Appeal  Post Office Box 1538 • St. Cloud, MN 56303 • (320) 258-0390 • www.stclouddiocese.org
2015 Annual Appeal: Making All Things New
Pastor’s Guide and Leadership Packet Page 4
Intentions/Prayers of the Faithful
January 24-25, 2015
For the success of the upcoming Annual Diocesan Appeal, that our hearts be moved to
generously support the Appeal which helps fund vital ministries within our Diocese, such as the
Vocations Office and its religious vocation camps and vocation activities for our young people.
We pray to the Lord.
January 31-February 1, 2015
For the success of our upcoming Annual Diocesan Appeal, that we generously respond
to help fund the ministries supporting our lives, especially the Office of Catholic Education
Ministries which provides resources, materials, and training for catechists in our parishes and
private schools.
We pray to the Lord.
February 7-8, 2015
For the success of our Annual Diocesan Appeal on this Commitment Weekend, that the
people of our parish and throughout our diocese will welcome Bishop Kettler’s message and
respond generously to help fund the ministries supporting our lives.
We pray to the Lord.
February 14-15, 2015
For the success of our Annual Diocesan Appeal, that the new immigrants in central
Minnesota who love Christ and their Catholic faith may benefit from our financial gifts to the
Appeal and its Office of Multicultural Ministry, which creates programs to integrate them into
our Catholic community and help them be productive, successful citizens.
We pray to the Lord.
February 21-22, 2015
For the success of our Annual Diocesan Appeal, that the marginalized, homeless,
imprisoned, and those fighting addictions will be healed and their dignity restored through our
diocesan Jail Ministry and retreat programs.
We pray to the Lord.
February 28-March 1, 2015
For the success of our Annual Diocesan Appeal, that people of our parish and throughout
our diocese who have not yet responded to Bishop Kettler’s message will joyfully do so to help
fund the ministries supporting our lives, such as the TV Mass viewed by our ill and homebound
brothers and sisters across the diocese.
We pray to the Lord.
March 7-8, 2015
For the success of our Annual Diocesan Appeal, that each of us will joyfully give to the
ministries supporting our lives, like the Office of Marriage and Family whose mission includes
preparing couples for marriage through the Fully Engaged Program, and helping married
couples experience the beauty, freedom, and effectiveness of Natural Family Planning.
We pray to the Lord.
Annual Appeal  Post Office Box 1538 • St. Cloud, MN 56303 • (320) 258-0390 • www.stclouddiocese.org
2015 Annual Appeal: Making All Things New
Pastor’s Guide and Leadership Packet Page 5
Bulletin Announcements
January 24-25, 2015
2015 Annual Diocesan Appeal: Commitment Weekend is February 7-8.
The 2015 Annual Diocesan Appeal, Bishop Kettler’s call to the faithful for support of Diocesan
Ministries, is just around the corner. Please pray for our Bishop and the success of his appeal,
and pray also for your discernment and response.
January 31-February 1, 2015
2015 Annual Diocesan Appeal: Commitment Weekend is February 7-8.
The Annual Diocesan Appeal helps fund ministries of the Diocese of Saint Cloud that assist our
parishes in providing pastoral care and furthering the mission of Jesus Christ. The appeal is made
by our good shepherd, Bishop Donald Kettler, who relies on the faith and generosity of all of us
to continue building the Body of Christ throughout our sixteen counties. Please prayerfully
respond to his appeal, and pray also for its success.
February 7-8, 2015
2015 Annual Diocesan Appeal--This is Commitment Weekend!
Today we officially kick off the 2015 Annual Diocesan Appeal. Bishop Kettler asks us to respond
as good stewards—in measure to the blessings we have received from our loving and almighty
God. Let us work together to build up the Catholic faith community in the Diocese of Saint Cloud.
May God bless and keep you as you discern your response to Bishop Kettler’s call.
February 14-15, 2015
The Annual Diocesan Appeal is a call to look beyond ourselves and support the greater Catholic
community of the Diocese of Saint Cloud. Trust in God, who’s generosity abounds, and in Jesus
Christ, who dwells within you. Thank you for giving to the Appeal!
February 21-22, 2015
We are blessed with wonderful Priests, who minister to us in times of joy or sorrow; feed us at
the Lord’s Table; and forgive our sins in Jesus’ name. Imagine life in the faith without them.
Your gift to the Annual Diocesan Appeal supports, among other ministries, the Office of
Vocations. Thank you for giving to the Appeal!
February 28-March 1, 2015
Many of our ill and homebound sisters and brothers in Christ, across the Diocese of Saint Cloud,
celebrate Sunday Mass broadcast on television. Getting to a parish is simply too difficult for
them. The Annual Diocesan Appeal supports the important ministry of the TV Mass. Thank you
for giving to the Appeal!
March 7-8, 2015
God commands us to pass our faith to coming generations, to teach our children! Your gift to
the Annual Diocesan Appeal supports, among other ministries, training for catechists across the
diocese. Thank you for giving to the Appeal!
Annual Appeal  Post Office Box 1538 • St. Cloud, MN 56303 • (320) 258-0390 • www.stclouddiocese.org
2015 Annual Appeal: Making All Things New
Pastor’s Guide and Leadership Packet Page 6
Suggested Letter from the Pastor for the February 14-15 Parish Bulletin
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
At Mass last weekend, we heard Bishop Kettler ask for our support of the 2015 Annual
Diocesan Appeal. Our help is needed because, while the Offices and Ministries of the Diocese of
Saint Cloud serve our parishes and the people of God in many ways, they are not selfsupporting—they aren’t businesses.
(Parish Name) is our parish, and we do love it. Remember, however, that the Diocese of Saint
Cloud is our Church throughout all sixteen counties, and Bishop Kettler is our Shepherd. I
want to lend my voice to our Bishop’s call, and urge you to respond generously to his appeal. I
will prayerfully make a gift to the 2015 Annual Diocesan Appeal, and I pray that you will join
me.
Sincerely in Christ’s Peace,
(PASTOR’S NAME)
Annual Appeal  Post Office Box 1538 • St. Cloud, MN 56303 • (320) 258-0390 • www.stclouddiocese.org
2015 Annual Appeal: Making All Things New
Pastor’s Guide and Leadership Packet Page 7
Bishop Kettler’s Annual Appeal Message
The Office of Stewardship and Development and the Office of Communications are creating a
video approximately 5 minutes long of the Annual Diocesan Appeal and the various ministries
it supports, including a brief message from Bishop Kettler. We ask that you present this
message to your parish(es) on Commitment Weekend.
Please notify Sheila McCallum at The Catholic Foundation by phone or email – (320)
258-7653 or SMcCallum@gw.stcdio.org – in which format you would like the message: DVD
video, MP3 audio, or CD audio. Transcripts are also available.
Annual Appeal  Post Office Box 1538 • St. Cloud, MN 56303 • (320) 258-0390 • www.stclouddiocese.org