Bishop Thomas John Paprocki has announced that a local collection, to be called the Diocesan Campaign for Justice and Hope (DCJH), will be taken up on the third weekend in November to help meet the needs of the poor in the Springfield diocese. The new collection will replace the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, which has previously been conducted on that same weekend annually.
In a Sept. 6 letter to priests and parish life coordinators of the diocese, Bishop Paprocki wrote, "All of the money collected in the DCJH will be distributed to groups and organizations in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. ... I am relying on your full support and partnership ... ."
The Campaign for Justice and Hope will be coordinated by the diocesan Department of Human Services. The department includes Catholic Charities and the Office for Social Concerns and Respect Life.
Sister Jane Boos, SSND, director of the diocesan Office for Social Concerns and Respect Life, said, "Drawing from the Corporal Works of Mercy, DCJH seeks to address the systemic injustices that contribute to poverty in our diocese. It will help provide financial support for local programs and organizations that give realistic hope for the poor to break out of the cycle of poverty through effective and efficient interventions."
In addition, Sister Jane said, "DCJH also desires to transform the way we think about poverty. As such, education will also be an important component of the Diocesan Campaign for Justice and Hope."
Poverty, Sister Jane said, is a daily reality for millions of Americans. The Springfield diocese, with a total population of over 1.1 million inhabitants, has "tens of thousands of people 'in our midst' living in poverty."
"As Catholics we are taught to seek out — not to avoid — the poor," Sister Jane said. "We are taught, through the example of Jesus, that we are all God's children and worthy of love, dignity and respect."
Father Joseph Ring, director of the Department of Human Services, said the new collection is a way for Catholics to fulfill the moral obligation to reach out in solidarity to those who are suffering and lacking basic human necessities.
"It is giving a 'hand-up' as opposed to a 'hand out,'" Father Ring said.
Funds collected through the annual DCJH collection will be allocated to organizations or projects that benefit people living in poverty through a structured grant application process. Applicants must demonstrate a focus on changing and improving conditions for low-income people in the diocese. Grantees will be accountable for the funds they receive through routine reporting and must maintain a diocesan or parish affiliation.
DCJH will not fund organizations that engage in activities that conflict with Catholic teaching on human life and dignity, that promote abortion or euthanasia, undermine the family or tolerate racism or unjust discriminations.
According to the overview and guidelines, applicants for DCJH grants must be not-for-profit organizations located in the 28 counties of the diocese. Applications must be made no later than March 15 and must include the signature of a pastor or parishioner in the Springfield diocese serving on the board of the organization. A local committee will submit recommendations for grant awards to Bishop Paprocki and his decision on funding will be communicated in May.
Most grants will be awarded in the $1,000 to $5,000 range, but grants for higher amounts will be considered on an individual basis.
For more information, contact Sister Jane at (217) 698-8500, ext. 130 or email .