As The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington enters a Jubilee Year marked by the theme "Pilgrims of Hope," its 2025 Annual Catholic Services Appeal—now in its 56th year—embraces a complementary vision with the theme “Spirit of Hope.”
The appeal seeks to raise $12 million in 2025 to fund more than 70 vital ministries across the archdiocese. Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory highlights hope as a cornerstone of this year’s campaign. “During the Holy Year, we are called to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardship of any kind,” Cardinal Gregory wrote in a letter in the appeal’s brochure.
Building the Kingdom of God
The funds raised through the Annual Appeal support programs that advance the Church's evangelization, education, and outreach mission, enriching the lives of individuals and families across The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. Contributions, whether large or small, help form priests, educate children, and provide outreach to underserved communities, spreading the light of Christ and furthering the kingdom of God.
Joseph Gillmer, the archdiocese’s executive director of development, expressed gratitude for the continued generosity of local Catholics. “It’s so critically important to give,” Gillmer said. “It’s this work of the Church, these ministries that give us the ability to be there for our brothers and sisters in the community. It’s one of the things that makes the Catholic faith so extraordinary. We are here for each other.”
Supporting vocations
Seminarian formation receives the largest share of funds from the Annual Catholic Services Appeal, with $5.2 million earmarked for supporting current and future generations of priests, deacons and religious in the archdiocese. In 2024, the generosity of donors supported the formation of 64 seminarians and facilitated the ordination of 16 new archdiocesan priests – the largest class in more than 60 years.
“In supporting St. John Paul II Seminary so generously, the Annual Appeal reflects the deep desire of the people of God to have well-formed, faithful, dedicated parish priests,” said Father Carter Griffin, the seminary’s rector. “It has been a joy to be a part of this seminary community since its founding 14 years ago, and I have consistently been impressed by the quality of the young men stepping forward to discern a priestly vocation. They can do so in a prayerful, beautiful, clean, peaceful seminary facility because of the Annual Appeal. Because of that generosity, over 50 alumni of St. John Paul II Seminary have now been ordained to the priesthood, mostly for our archdiocese, but also for dioceses throughout the country.”
Catholic education and faith formation
The Annual Catholic Services Appeal supports outreach to youth and families, allocating $1.575 million to Catholic schools, parish religious education programs and youth activities. These programs provide faith-based instruction to 26,000 students in 90 Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Washington. Parish K-8 religious education programs within the archdiocese serve more than 17,000 students annually. “This is a vital ministry for the Church, as the Church exists to evangelize and bring the love of Christ to a world desperately in need of Him,” said Sara Blauvelt, the archdiocese’s secretary for catechesis.
Last year, contributions helped more than 1,300 individuals enter the Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and the Order of Christian Initiation of Children. “We can see the fruits of this ministry,” Blauvelt said.
Funding faith in action
Other funding priorities for the Annual Catholic Services Appeal include social justice and outreach ministries ($1.5 million), pastoral care through chaplains in campus ministries, hospitals, and prisons ($1.2 million), and communications and digital evangelization ($1.125 million). Father Conrad Murphy, chaplain at the Catholic Student Center at the University of Maryland in College Park, noted, “The appeal does enable us to have a very tangible presence on campus, allowing us to walk with our students in their faith and to help them to walk with their peers.”
“The Annual Catholic Services Appeal is vital for our ministry to exist and to thrive,” said Father Robert Boxie III, the Catholic chaplain at Howard University. “I’m always moved by the generosity of donors and faithful Catholics who support campus ministry.”
Support for family and life ministries
This year’s appeal hopes to provide $1.4 million in support of parish, family and life ministries. These funds sustain a variety of initiatives, including supporting local crisis pregnancy centers, youth outreach and public advocacy. Kathryn Yanik, the archdiocese’s director of life issues, highlighted how the appeal supports critical life-affirming programs for all stages of life. “Annual appeal gifts allow us to support our parishes through various pastoral and educational programs. Through these contributions, we can continue to support families in need and advocate for the most vulnerable among us,” Yanik said.
The appeal also enables the Office of Family Life to sponsor the annual Wedding Anniversary Mass, organize marriage preparation classes, help parishes with marriage enrichment resources, offer Natural Family Planning introductory workshops and provide resources for grieving parents.
Uniting a diverse Catholic community
The Archdiocese of Washington is home to a vibrant and diverse Catholic community, reflecting the cultural richness of the Washington area and the universality of the Catholic Church. To ensure the Annual Catholic Services Appeal reaches and resonates with all parishioners, informational material is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, and French. This commitment to inclusivity highlights the archdiocese’s dedication through the missions the Annual Appeal funds to serve its multiethnic population and embodies the spirit of the universal Church – a Church that transcends borders and languages to bring Christ’s love to all people.
The Annual Catholic Services Appeal will kick off with Announcement Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 15-16, 2025. During this weekend, attendees at Mass will learn about the impact of the Annual Appeal on their communities and throughout the archdiocese. Following this, a “Giving Week” will be held from Feb. 16 to 21. During this time, the archdiocese will showcase various ministries supported by the appeal.
Mass-goers will be invited to pledge support for the Annual Catholic Services Appeal during Commitment Weekend on Feb. 22-23 or on Follow-up Weekend on March 1 and 2. The archdiocese assures donors that 100 percent of contributions are allocated exclusively to the programs outlined in the appeal. The archdiocese uses other revenue to cover the appeal’s administrative expenses.
For those unable to give financially, prayers and volunteer service remain meaningful ways to support the mission. Elizabeth Shaughney, the director of stewardship for the archdiocese, praised the appeal’s theme, saying, “Spirit of Hope reflects the grace of the Jubilee Year and the promise of Christ’s enduring presence in our lives.”
In his letter, Cardinal Gregory expressed gratitude to Catholics in the archdiocese for their generosity and asked them to prayerfully consider making a gift to the 2025 Annual Catholic Services Appeal. “Your kindness has impacted countless lives,” he said, adding, “Through your generosity, we can continue to share the Spirit of Hope that can only come from Christ with a world that cries out desperately for it.”
For more information on the Annual Catholic Services Appeal or to contribute, Catholics in the Archdiocese of Washington may visit appeal.adw.org.
