Case For Support
Capital Campaign
Clergy Formation - $7,000,000
To minister to a rapidly growing population, the Diocese of Austin must ensure that it has trained a well-rounded pastoral staff to serve its parishioners. This begins with an ample supply of priests to celebrate the sacraments, form and sustain community life and guide us on our journey with Christ. Finding and inviting men to explore a vocation to the priesthood is a responsibility we all share. By encouraging and supporting seminarians in their formation process, we are helping to build a culture of vocations in the Church of Central Texas that can only strengthen our ministries and better serve our faith communities. In addition to ordained priests, the diaconal ministry is a great source of parish leadership. The men who choose to become permanent deacons in the diocese require a quality education and formation program and the support of not only their parish, but also the diocese.
Seminarian Education and Religious Formation Fund - $5,000,000
In contrast with some dioceses, the number of seminarians in the Diocese of Austin has risen significantly in recent years. In 2000 the Diocese of Austin had 12 seminarians studying for the priesthood. Recognizing the need to grow and expand, a full-time Director of Vocations was appointed in 2001. As a result of increased education and a focused, full-time effort by the office, more than 30 men are now studying for the priesthood annually. The diocese expects to ordain approximately 15 seminarians to the priesthood over the next three years.
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The Path to Priesthood: Human, Spiritual, Intellectual and Pastoral
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To ensure our priests are well-prepared, a man in formation will pursue a quality education in philosophy, theology and pastoral care. With the expense of higher education becoming increasingly costly, many cannot afford the specialized education required. Often with the assistance of family or scholarships, seminarians pay their own educational costs as best they can. But financial impediments should never prevent young men from responding to God’s call to the priesthood. When assistance is needed, the diocese helps, spending almost $1,400,000 annually for priestly formation. Costs include tuition, room, board, books, school fees, a stipend of $100 per month, and health insurance if the individual is not covered by another policy. An endowment would supplement annual revenues and ensure the diocese’s ability to support our commitment to priestly vocations.
Recognizing that for many among us exposure to religious and priestly vocations is limited, we will also focus on reaching out to parishes and schools to proactively educate parishioners and promote these vocations. Our campaign will afford us the possibility of a religious sister serving as Vocations Promoter for the diocese, assisting the Director and elevating awareness and interest among Catholics about discerning vocations and serving the Church.
Discernment Houses - $1,000,000
In order to facilitate a culture of vocations, the diocese will establish Discernment Houses near St. Mary Catholic Center at Texas A&M University and near the University Catholic Center at the University of Texas. In conjunction with Catholic campus ministry, these Discernment Houses will invite young men to live together in community, enter into meaningful discussion and prayer about a vocation to the priesthood and stimulate more active participation as a Catholic on campus.
Discerning a possible vocation to the priesthood, men would actively participate in the sacraments, group prayer, spiritual direction and vocation programs while agreeing to a celibate lifestyle and paying rent competitive with local alternatives. Much less costly than a year of seminary, this experience eases men into the idea of considering a vocation to priestly service. We live in a time when a young man may simply not ever think about the possibility that he is called by God to serve as a priest. By inviting young men to consider this vocation in a positive, open environment in cooperation with a vibrant Catholic campus ministry program, we will be developing stronger leaders for the Church, even if a man discerns that his call is not to become an ordained priest. At the same time, we will also be planting a seed that may later bear fruit in a priest who will lead his parish with great love, celebrate the sacraments with deep devotion and teach the people with the mind of the Church.
Permanent Diaconate Education and Formation Fund - $1,000,000
Ordained ministers of the Church, deacons are strong men of faith who desire and embrace service to the people of God. Often in addition to holding jobs and raising a family, they play critical roles in the lives of parishes throughout the diocese. Deacons prepare and administer the sacraments, serve the poor and sick, guide spiritual direction, preach the Word, teach the faithful and stand as recognizable leaders in our communities. Especially given the growing number of Catholics in our diocese and the shortage of priests, deacons play an essential part in helping priests meet the pastoral needs of parishes.
Although much less costly than seminarian education, studying for the permanent diaconate can be a financial burden to the individual and the local parish. With more than 180 permanent deacons and more than 70 in formation and discernment, we must establish a fund to support their education and formation by providing tuition assistance.