Embracing the Future: Our Needs to 2020

On Sunday, October 7, 2007 , Archbishop Peter Smith announced the launch of a five-year fund-raising campaign, entitled Embracing the Future: Our Needs to 2020 €. In planning it, the Archdiocese looked at its principal needs over the next fifteen years and identified three major Campaign goals:

First Goal Clergy Welfare Fund

The first goal is to build a large fund to provide for the future support of our sick and retired clergy. A recent increase in the level of support provided to sick and retired priests, combined with an increasing number of priests retiring, means that the current annual assessment on parishes to fund these costs will be insufficient. The goal is to build a fund of about £5 million to meet these future needs.

Second Goal Pastoral Strategy Support

The second goal is to build a fund to support the Archdiocese's Pastoral Strategy. Parishes are being re-organised to ensure continuing pastoral leadership and care and new patterns of ministry are being developed. Many parishes are, or will be served, by pastoral teams of priests, permanent deacons and religious sisters, supported by more lay ministries. The Archdiocese will need more professional resources to ensure effective implementation of these changes. The goal is to build a fund of about £2 million to meet these ongoing costs.

Third Goal – Renovation of St. David's Cathedral

Funds must be raised to complete the renovation and refurbishment of St. David's Cathedral. The Cathedral, destroyed by bombs and fire during World War II and rebuilt in the 1950's, has undergone little improvement since that time. Improvements must now be made to the Cathedrals heating, toilet facilities and disabled access, to meet today's health and safety standards, to enhance the celebration of the liturgy in the Cathedral and to permit it to be used to host ecumenical events. While some public grants and outside donations are expected, the goal is to build a fund of about £2 million to cover the majority of the costs.

This Campaign is unlike any ever held before in this Archdiocese. Although one-time donations will be gratefully accepted, the Campaign asks that people consider pledging a monthly or quarterly donation over the next five years and/or leaving a legacy. The Archdiocese is hoping for a high level of participation, which is more important to the Campaigns success than the amount of any individual pledge.

The Campaign is being conducted largely through the parishes, supported by a very small team at Archbishops House and Campaign Leaders in each parish. However, contributions are welcome from anyone at any time. Special brochures, along with pledge cards, are available in English or Welsh and can be downloaded from the website. Full instructions are provided therein but you can also contact the Campaign Office on 02920 220411 for further information.