CNA Staff, May 5, 2020 / 16:01 pm
Bishop Paul Bradley of Kalamazoo released a pastoral letter Friday encouraging support for parishes during the pandemic, and announcing the diocesan-wide bishop's appeal would be rescheduled for later in the year.
"As I have said many times before, strong Parishes make a strong Diocese and we are working to ensure our Parishes are financially secure," Bishop Bradley wrote May 1.
Many parishes are experiencing budget shortfalls due to decreased in-person donations. Data from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate suggests that throughout the US, collections may only be about 42% of what they would have been without the pandemic.
"Although we have been forced to change the way we have been providing our ministries, our mission remains the same. We are committed to proclaiming the Gospel, to prayer and worship, to lifelong faith formation, and to serving the needs of all God's people," Bradley wrote, noting that the diocese has set up a dedicated parish fund where people can donate.