HOPE Appeal
We Are All Called To Be Merciful
Many thousands of Catholics in the Diocese of Syracuse open their hearts and generously support the HOPE Appeal each year. The appeal is the annual fundraising campaign conducted by the diocese to support vital, diocesan-wide programs and services – money used to help people across our 7 counties to sustain the spiritual, educational, and physical needs of people in our own communities.
Your gifts to the annual HOPE Appeal have done so much for the people of our diocese! Your willingness to share your blessings with others allows us to serve the poor, strengthen our ministries, educate our young people and comfort the ill and the lonely.
Your HOPE Appeal donation helps us to serve hundreds of thousands of people throughout the diocese. For example, your donation helps feed the hungry by providing over 80,000 meals. You help prepare our children for the Sacraments, providing support for the catechists who instruct 19,000 students annually. The HOPE Appeal benefits more than 4,300 children who attend Catholic schools in our diocese.
Your donation helps bring comfort to the sick and homebound by supporting Syracuse Catholic Television and the production of weekly Mass, as well as 30,000 visits to the sick by hospital chaplains. Your support also fosters and promotes vocations to the priesthood. A significant part of your gifts are returned to parishes to support food pantries, youth programs and senior services.
When you think about your HOPE Appeal gift this year, please consider those blessings and gifts you have received in your life and how they can be shared!
Why should I make a donation to the HOPE Appeal?
Gifts to the HOPE Appeal provide annual funding to over 80 programs and ministries that serve the people of the Diocese of Syracuse. HOPE Appeal money helps fund services to more than 227,000 people and 114 parishes, 11 missions and 4 devotional chapels in the Diocese through pastoral, educational, financial and charitable programs: these services are only possible through the coordinated efforts of an annual campaign. To insure that all those people who need our help continue to receive our care and concern, your support is needed now more than ever.
How is HOPE Appeal money used?
Funds received to support the HOPE Appeal are allocated only for the programs, services and ministries of the diocese as explained in the Appeal’s case statement and brochures. Examples include Catholic Charities, Catholic Schools, Catholic Religious Education, Vocations, Evangelization, Parish Services, Social Justice and Parish Sharing.
How have HOPE Appeal contributions been used to support Catholic Schools?
Hope Appeal campaign support for Catholic Schools is in the form of annual payments based on how much the campaign raises. In this current year, more than $900,000 have been allocated for Tuition Assistance and Academic Development in our Catholic Schools. Almost 25% of all HOPE Appeal funds are directed to Catholic Schools.
How is Heritage Campaign money used?
Funds received to support the Heritage Campaign may only be used for the specific elements of the campaign’s case statement including: Catholic Schools, Religious Educations, Youth Ministries, Catholic Charities, Priest Retirement, Diocesan Parishes and HOPE Appeal Ministries. Distributions will be made by the Board of the Heritage Campaign, Inc., consistent with the case statement.