Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh

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Pittsburgh’s ‘Church Alive’ Fundraising Campaign Sets Record

By Peter Jesserer Smith / National Catholic Register
Feb. 5, 2015

PITTSBURGH — When Bishop David Zubik proposed his vision for “The Church Alive” in 2008, little did he imagine that the faithful in the Diocese of Pittsburgh would send a resounding “Yes” in 2015 by pledging a record-setting $230 million for the capital, program and endowment campaign to make the diocese’s pastoral plan a reality.

“I was totally shocked to see the results,” Bishop Zubik said, calling the response from the faithful “so heartwarming.”

Diocese of Pittsburgh's first fundraising campaign far exceeds goal

By Catholic News Service - Feb. 5, 2015

PITTSBURGH (CNS) -- The response to the Diocese of Pittsburgh's first fundraising campaign in its 172-year history "shows that our people love their faith and are willing to make sacrifices for it," said Bishop David A. Zubik.

More than 44,000 donors representing about 130,000 Catholics in 200 parishes across the six-county diocese have pledged gifts to "Our Campaign for The Church Alive!" that total more than $230 million, with close to $63 million collected so far. The goal of the campaign was $125 million.

Congregants pledge $230 million to Pittsburgh Diocese for capital projects

By Peter Smith / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
January 26, 2015 12:00 AM

Roman Catholics in the Diocese of Pittsburgh pledged more than $230 million in the first-ever attempt to wrap parish and diocese-wide goals under a single capital campaign, Bishop David Zubik said Sunday.

The pledges were nearly twice the goal set by diocesan planners when the launched the campaign two years ago, using a formula measuring average parish income. They will fund projects ranging from building and repairing churches, schools and diocesan offices to boosting funds for seminary education, lay-leadership training and medical care and emergency aid for the poor.

Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh nearly doubles goal with $230M pledged in largest fundraiser

By Rick Wills / Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, 10:00 p.m.

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh raised nearly double its goal in the largest fundraising effort it has undertaken, church officials said Sunday.

The five-year Campaign for The Church Alive! set a goal of $125 million. More than $230 million is pledged, Bishop David Zubik said.

Catholic churches in Washington, Greene counties gain in diocesan campaign

By Kathie Warco / Washington (PA) Observer-Reporter
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015

Catholics in Washington and Greene counties showed their generosity in a recent campaign by the Diocese of Pittsburgh aimed at reinvigorating evangelization and supporting the work of the church.

Bishop David Zubik announced “Our Campaign for The Church Alive” in late December 2012, asking parishioners to consider pledging sacrificial gifts over five years. The campaign is supporting priorities across the diocese, including need-based tuition for children in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, religious education, seminarian formation, support for retired and senior priests, Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center and brothers and sisters in the mission.

Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese celebrates successful capital campaign

Tom Davidson / Beaver County Times
Tues. Jan. 27, 2015

PITTSBURGH -- Using the generosity of people's pledges from their wallets as a guide, faithful Catholics' hearts are in the right place here, as evidenced by the results of the first diocesan-wide capital campaign in the history of the Catholic Church in the Pittsburgh area.

"Long before modern communication techniques, Jesus told us about a practical way to measure the fervor of our faith," Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik said Sunday at a news conference announcing the results of the campaign. "In the Sermon on the Mount, he told his followers, 'For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.'

Cranberry parishes boost
Diocese's fundraising effort

BY Eric Freehling / Butler Eagle
Published: Sunday, Jan. 25 2015

CRANBERRY TWP — Two parishes in Cranberry Township raised more than 10 percent of the $230 million pledged in the Pittsburgh Diocese’s “Our Campaign for The Church Alive!” fundraising effort.

St. Killian Parish raised $22.3 million and St. Ferdinand Parish raised $3.8 million, according to figures released by the diocese.

Pittsburgh diocese campaign big success

BY Chris Buckley / Valley Independent
Published: Monday, Jan. 26 2015

Catholic parishes in six southwestern Pennsylvania counties that participated in the Diocese of Pittsburgh's Our Campaign for the Church Alive! initiative more than doubled the ambitious fiscal goals set for them.

But three of eight parishes in the Mid-Mon Valley failed to generate pledges sufficient to reach their goals.

Catholic Diocese Fundraiser Brings In More Than $200 Million

Published: Sunday, Jan. 25 2015
KDKA-TV

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese celebrated a major milestone Sunday.

A fundraising campaign has brought in nearly double its goal.

A mass of gratitude at St. Paul Cathedral was held to thank parish leaders for their sacrifice and dedication.

Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announces results of Our Campaign for The Church Alive!

Published: Sunday, Jan. 25 2015
WTAE-TV

PITTSBURGH —Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese Bishop David A. Zubik announced success of the Our Campaign for The Church Alive!

At a press conference Sunday, Bishop Zubik said more than 44,000 donors have pledged gifts to the campaign totaling $230,309,504 with $62,667,752 received to date.

Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese
Celebrates Major Milestone

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Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese
Nearly Doubles Fundraising Goal

By KEVIN GAVIN / WESA-FM
Published: Monday, Jan. 26 2015

The leader of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh was hoping to raise $125 million in a first of its kind campaign for the diocese “to strengthen parishes and evangelize.”

The Our Campaign for The Church Alive instead brought in $230 million in pledges with nearly $63 million received to date. “I continued to emphasize this campaign was really not about the money, it was about continuing the work of the church,” said Bishop David Zubik. “ It (the amount pledged) shows that our people love their faith and are willing to make sacrifices for it.”

Dr. Patrick Joyce discusses Our Campaign for the Church Alive! on KDKA

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Catholic diocese's Church Alive! fundraising campaign exceeds goals in early phases

By Rick Wills
Published: Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013, 9:10 p.m.
TribLIVE

The Rev. David Taylor, pastor of St. Charles Lwanga Church, was hesitant to embark on the most ambitious fundraising project the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh ever sponsored.

Diocese of Pittsburgh announces $50 million raised

May 27, 2013 1:55 pm
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has reached a milestone in its five-year, $125 million capital campaign, the organization announced Monday.

Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese fundraising campaign reaches $50 million

By Tribune-Review
Published: Monday, May 27, 2013, 5:51 p.m.

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has received more than $50 million in commitments as an ambitious five-year, $125 million fundraising campaign enters a new phase.

Enthusiasm for The Church Alive!

Early results show enthusiastic support for Our Campaign for The Church Alive! as donors respond to the historic fund-raising drive for the Church of Pittsburgh, which officially kicked off December 14, 2012.

Our Campaign for The Church Alive! launched

by: Robert P. Lockwood
Dec. 17th, 2012

Bishop David Zubik has formally announced the launch of “Our Campaign for The Church Alive!,” a historic fund-raising drive for the Church of Pittsburgh. The goal of the campaign is to raise a minimum of $125 million over the next five years in the 204 parishes of the diocese in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties for strategic endowment, capital and programming initiatives, according to Bishop Zubik.

Strengthening our parishes

by: Bishop David Zubik
Dec. 16, 2012, Gaudete Sunday

My Dear Friends in Christ:
“Gaudete in Domino semper!” “Rejoice in the Lord always!”

The readings that the church chooses for the Third Sunday of Advent — called Gaudete Sunday — ring out a growing, joy-filled anticipation of the anniversary of the coming of our Lord at Christmas.

“Shout for joy …
“Sing joyfully …
“Be glad and exult …”

Catholic Diocese to seek $125 million to fund 'the intangibles'

Donations raised would go toward 'the intangibles'
By Ann Rodgers / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Oct. 25, 2012

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will launch a $125 million fundraising campaign in January, with 40 percent of donations going directly back to the parishes that raise them.

Photo Credit: Jim Judkis