Appeal for Catholic Ministries

Thank You For Sharing In Our Need

We give thanks to our God at our every remembrance of our generous stewards, our pastors, parish leaders and all those who partner with us in grace to carry out the work of Jesus through diocesan ministries and Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas.  We pray always with joy in our hearts at our every thought of them. Remembering how they have helped us to spread the Good News. We are confident the One who began this good work in them will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Ministries & Programming
Goal - $2,312,660.00
 

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Working together, the people of the Diocese of Beaumont initiate and strengthen numerous ministries throughout Southeast Texas. These efforts are an important part of our shared call to discipleship. The Appeal for Catholic Ministries is our chance to better understand the work of the Church and to give generously to support this work, so that we can do all things for the Glory of God.

Funds raised in the Appeal will provide:
Through the Office of Family, Marriage and Youth we see a multitude of programming geared at reaching groups that are of vast importance to the life of the Church and her future. Through Campus Ministry, we reach out to college students as a voice of truth and offer a place of fellowship, education, and sacramental reception to students in a pivotal phase of life—one that can prove challenging to keep Christ at the forefront.
Through Marriage Preparation, we assist couples in their journey toward the covenant of marriage by providing them with opportunities to participate in marriage retreats.
In Youth Ministry, we train youth ministers on how to better connect with and catechize young people on their spiritual journey. They also put on youth events such as the annual Diocesan Youth Convention, sporting events, and summer camp at Christ Central—some of which draw hundreds of youth to participate In Young Adult ministry, we see the unique opportunity to reach out to young people where they are. Through fellowship and catechesis, we draw them further into the fullness of our Catholic Faith by revealing all of the beautiful gifts that God has provided to his Church.

Through the Criminal Justice Ministry, we go to the very peripheries of our society and present God’s love and mercy to those in the criminal justice system. These are individuals who without Kolbe retreats and spiritual counsel, may never know the true power of repentance and forgiveness found in the loving hands of the father and that there is true purpose for their lives.

In Multicultural Ministry, we highlight and celebrate the many different nationalities and races that come together to form the Body of Christ and give great vibrancy to our Universal Church. In bringing people together of these different backgrounds, we illustrate to the community how God has chosen to use all people to fulfill his purpose of bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world.

The Holy Family Retreat Center is available for private and small group overnight retreats as well as hosting conference events. The Holy Family Retreat Center warmly welcomes all who long to grow in holiness and seek God in prayer with a listening heart. The retreat center provides a spirit-filled environment where retreatants – groups, families, or individuals – can rest both body and soul in our prayerful chapel, on our beautiful grounds, in our comfortable rooms, with our delicious meals, and experience the hospitality, generosity, and charity of the Holy Family.

The Tribunal, according to the Code of Canon Law, is an extension of the Diocesan Bishop’s Judicial Ministry to the local Church and, as such, is concerned in a special way with the quest for justice. In addition to studying requests for nullity of marriage, the Tribunal also acts as a resource to the Bishop and serves as a consultative office for clergy, religious, and laity as a source of information regarding canonical matters.

Through Evangelization and Catechesis, we are able to share with our local community the beauty of our Catholic faith and the consuming love of our Heavenly Father. Through community events we reach people who may never otherwise hear the gospel message. In RCIA, we actively educate those individuals who want to learn more about Catholicism and bring them into full communion with the Church through her sacraments.

Through Vocations Ministry and Seminary Formation, we foster the call to priestly service and educate future shepherds of our Catholic faithful. In the world, there are many voices pulling at the hearts of young men and we are here to help guide them through the spiritual process that is vocational discernment as one of those voices. The future of the Church is dependent on having faithful priests that can actively help others navigate the challenges of this life and offer them access to the gifts that are the sacraments.

Through Continuing Education for Clergy, we are able to provide our priests with opportunities to further enhance their own spiritual lives by participating in educational activities that help them grow in the breadth of knowledge that is present within our Catholic faith, thus better equipping them to serve the faithful.

Through Ministry to Infirmed Priests, we are given the unique opportunity to care for those who have devoted their lives to serving Christ and His Church through priestly service.

Stella Maris is the Catholic ministry to “the people of the sea.” Each year, more than 2,100 deep sea vessels enter the ports within our Diocese carrying 46,000 mariners, most of whom are Catholic. Stella Maris also ministers to those who man the more than 300 shrimp boats that sail the Gulf of Mexico. The Diocese of Beaumont is the United States’ third largest maritime center, and with that status comes tens of thousands of merchant sailors every year. The Diocese’s maritime ministry is active in our three major deep-water ports – Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange. In Beaumont and Port Arthur, Catholic maritime ministry is carried out in an ecumenical spirit through the Seafarers’ 
Center of Beaumont and the Port Arthur International Seafarers’ Center. The Port of Orange is serviced through the Port Arthur International Seafarers’ Center and the outreach of Catholics in Orange.

In Stewardship Ministry, we educate the faithful on what it means to be good and gracious servants through the sharing of our loaned gifts from the Father. In this ministry we help people better understand that true Christian stewardship is an act of trust, believing that God will provide what we need today and will do so again tomorrow.

Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas provides food assistance, counseling services, grief support for children experiencing the death of an immediate family member, immigration legal services, disaster response/emergency assistance, and financial education to those in need in our local community. Catholic Charities makes its services available to all without regard to race, gender, religion, age, or national origin.

Communications Ministry carries out the mission of the Church by providing public relations for the Bishop and Diocesan departments and ministries, marketing efforts for the Diocesan ministries, live streaming of liturgical events and major activities of the Diocese, connecting with the community through postings on social media including Facebook (Catholic Diocese of Beaumont), YouTube (Diocese of Beaumont), and Instagram (Diocese of Beaumont). It also facilitates all Diocesan media efforts including publication of the East Texas Catholic, the digital version of The Official Directory of the Catholic Diocese of Beaumont, the Bishop’s televised morning message and other 
video messages, and the Diocesan website at http://www.dioceseofbmt.org

Diaconate Formation assists in the recruitment and formation of men for the diaconate, an incredibly fruitful vocation within the Church that can be accessed by good married men in our Parishes who wish to serve Christ on an even deeper level. As a minister of the Word, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach and teach. As ministers of the Sacrament, they baptize, witness marriages and conduct wake and funeral services. As ministers of Charity, deacons work to identify the needs of others and utilize resources to meet those needs.

The Office of Catholic Schools offers professional and spiritual development to all elementary and secondary principals and educators in the Diocese of Beaumont. It sponsors conferences and workshops on such topics as faith formation, curriculum development, technology advancement, major gifts, marketing and public relations.
Strategic planning for the future of the schools is on-going with the help of several groups, including boards, administrative leaders, pastors, educators, and parents. The office also provides a wide range of consultative services for the schools, assisting in areas such as catechetical leadership, tuition assistance, enrollment trends, corporate marketing and business development, alumni support, team building and collaboration, and other administrative issues.

Ministry to the Sick (Hospital Chaplaincy) provides chaplains who respond fully to that instruction of Jesus by visiting local hospital systems as well as area convalescent homes. Because of YOU, the sick receive Anointing of the Sick, Eucharist, and are often able to attend Mass. Their families are also supported as they deal with the llness, aging and sometimes death of a loved one.

2024 ACM Timeline

Helping with the ACM in your parish is a big task. But it’s such an important job! Please know how greatly your time and talent are appreciated. Here’s a timeline to help keep you on track. Please mark any key dates on your master calendar; create electronic reminders if desired.

 

Mark your Calendars

December 2023
Dec. 07
•  Stewardship Excellence Dinner

January 2024
Jan. 19
•  Year End Thank You Impact Report Letter

Parish Materials drop shipped to parishes
•  Appeal materials drop shipped. In pew envelopes will be shipped January 12, 2024 and arrive in parishes the week of January 22, 2024 via UPS

Announcement Weekend (also known as Education Weekend or Kickoff Weekend) 01/27 – 01/28
•  Parishes will schedule a presenter(s) to make altar announcements about the ACM
•  Printable and electronic bulletin announcements
•  Sharing the giving link and all ACM information on social media outlets

February 2024
Commitment Weekend 02/03 – 02/04
•  Present the ACM video via USB, CD or internet link
•  Include a prayer of the faithful for the Appeal in all Masses Feb. 14 – Ash Wednesday

April – December 2024
•  Statement Mailings – Estimated the 15ᵗʰ of every month
August 15 Intentions Mass

 2024 Transmittal Sheet

Rachel Johnson

Director of Stewardship and Development
409-924-4302
[email protected]