By Melissa Herberger

I did not grow up Catholic.  In fact, even though I had been going to Mass every Sunday for several years, it never occurred to me that I needed to make things “official.”

It wasn’t until my children were old enough to realize that Mom did not go up for communion during Mass and they started asking questions that it became an issue.  One Sunday as my mother-in-law took my children up with her for communion, my daughter who was in first grade at the time, called out “Mom, don’t you love the Lord?” as she was escorted up the aisle.  Embarrassed, I quickly sat down in the pew.  When they returned, my mother-in-law leaned over and whispered, “It’s time.”

It was time for me to go through RCIA and make it official.  So, in April 2011, I officially joined the Catholic Church and our parish community.

Throughout our marriage, even prior to my joining the church, my husband and I had been faithful stewards with our time and talent to our parish.  We served on several committees, and we gave what we could financially.  We felt like we were “doing our part.”  It never occurred to me that we needed to do more.

I had heard of the Catholic Services Appeal, but I had no idea what it was or why it was important to my parish and why it should have been important to me.

It wasn’t until I began working in the Office of Mission Advancement that I quickly learned just how important the CSA was to our parish community and parishes throughout the Archdiocese.

I did not know that the Catholic Services Appeal supports over 100 ministries and programs throughout our Archdiocese.  For many of our parishes, especially the smaller parishes, many programs and ministries would not be possible were it not for the CSA.  Programs like RCIA, a program from which I had personally benefited, are supported by funds from the annual CSA.

Throughout these past several months, amid a global pandemic and social unrest, parishes and agencies were able to continue to function and provide assistance to so many throughout our community that depend on them—thanks to the Catholic Services Appeal.

Now that I am aware of what the funds raised by the Catholic Services Appeal mean to our parishes and those they serve, we will be making a donation this year.  I invite you to join us by making a gift to the 2020 Catholic Services Appeal.  Your gift in any amount will make a difference in our community by ensuring that vital programs and ministries continue to serve the needs of those in our parishes and surrounding community!

Melissa Herberger is Coordinator for Annual Giving and Stewardship for the Archdiocese of Louisville.

For more information on how to make a gift to the 2020 CSA, visit archlouorgnew.kinsta.cloud/csa or call (502) 585-3291. A gift can be made using the form below: