#1 Bestseller : Diocesan Annual Campaign

For the last 22 years, numerous parishioners, priests, religious communities and business corporations have responded generously each year to my invitation to join our annual diocesan campaign. Last year, 12,390 donors contributed $ 1,538,212.13.

This generous response helps to support the work of all those who contribute actively, on a daily basis, to the mission of the Church in more than 200 parishes. Thanks to our annual appeal, about 50 parishes in low-income areas receive diocesan assistance.

In addition to raising the necessary funds essential to our continued operation, the annual appeal also affords the opportunity to keep the presence and work of the Church in the public eye. Be it Christian education for children, help for the elderly, material assistance for the needy or sacramental celebrations, these are all facets of the Church-in-action that we are able to highlight.

The 2010 campaign will be held from April 11 to 25 throughout all the parishes, and we are counting on the active participation of the faithful to join this diocesan-wide appeal. It’s imperative that people respond to this invitation because it affects the future of the campaign. Perhaps, you have noticed that the number of donors has decreased over the years. For this reason, I’m also asking parishes to send us the names of people to whom we could mail a personal appeal, for this remains the best means of guaranteeing the success of future campaigns. This request is being made to all those who, like us, want to see the campaign succeed.

Despite the precarious economic times in which we live, your commitment allows us to offer a reasonable response to the ever increasing needs that arise. Don’t hesitate to contact the campaign committee for more information or to obtain additional promotional material. (Contact Jean-Philippe Desjeunes at 514-925-4300, ext. 223 or 217.)

I would like to mention the generous role played by the personnel of BOS Publicity Agency and its president, Mr. Michel Ostiguy, who, for the last 20 years, has overseen our campaign publicity with an originality that has been recognized by the media world. More than a dozen awards have been won by BOS Publicity for our different campaigns.

I also would like to thank the media who kindly and faithfully work with us by making publicity space available gratis for our campaign in various newspapers and in billboards throughout the diocese. This media presence allows us to reach a great number of people.

To all those who give generously, I express my profound gratitude.

The Créa contest, which announced its winners March 25 in Montreal, honours the best ads produced in Quebec. In its 2009 contest, BOS Publicity Agency, who has overseen our campaigns for the last 20 years, was the grand winner, having received 8 Grand Prizes and 12 Awards.

Unlimited Incoming Calls, the publicity for the 2009 diocesan campaign, received the Grand Prize in the category for Ads – Public Service.

† Jean-Claude Turcotte
Archbishop of Montréal