By Joanna Puddister King
JACKSON – There are hungry and homeless in Mississippi. There are college students that need to be ministered to. There are seminarians that need our help to become our future priests. And there are retired priests that need our assistance after a lifetime of service. These are just a few of the ministries that the annual Catholic Service Appeal (CSA) supports.

“Due to COVID protocols, we did not have a second collection in February of 2021 and opted to postpone to a later date. We hoped that we would meet our goal without a second collection for the CSA,” said Rebecca Harris, director of stewardship and development for the diocese. “Unfortunately, that has not happened. We are $344,000 from our goal.”

Parishes will have a second collection on Aug. 28-29 and pledge envelopes will be available to help reach the CSA 2021 goal.

The Catholic Service Appeal is important to many vital ministries of the diocese. These ministries help carry out the mission of the church and reaching this goal will ensure these ministries do not have budget cuts.

There are eleven collective ministries that no one parish could support on its own; however, joined as one, the diocese can make a difference. The appeal supports educating seminarians, Catholic Charities, campus ministry, mission parishes and schools, youth ministry, formational ministries, priest retirement and clergy assistance, evangelizing and communications. More information on each ministry is available on the diocese website.

“We understand that many individuals and families have faced challenges during the pandemic and will not be able to support the CSA due to changing circumstances. Please know that our prayers continue to be with you and your family, and I ask for your prayers for the ministries served by our appeal,” said Harris. “For those who have already given we greatly appreciate your support.”

The theme of this year’s appeal is Embrace – Serve – Inspire, with beloved Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman as the inspiration. She once asked of God, “Touch me with your love so that I can help somebody, so that I can serve somebody, so that I can bless somebody.”

It is not too late to make a difference – to help, to serve, to bless somebody. For online donations and to learn more about each ministry the Catholic Service Appeal supports go to csa.jacksondiocese.org.