More Than Money, ADF Seeks to Create Catholic Unity  

Once a year the Archdiocesan Church asks every Catholic family to make a pledge to provide support for over 50 agencies, ministries and programs, which serve thousands of our brothers and sisters in parishes throughout the Archdiocese. The ADF is the only appeal the Archbishop makes for these purposes.

The Archdiocesan Annual Appeal was started 38 years ago as a way to provide support for charitable, educational, and spiritual ministries on an Archdiocesan wide basis that individual parishes could not provide themselves.

The goal for this year’s campaign is $3 million.

“You Are the Light of the World” has been selected as the theme for this year’s campaign, said Joe Combs, director of the Archdiocesan Office of Stewardship and Development, which coordinates the annual ADF campaign. He said the theme was chosen because “Christ told each of us that we are the Light of the World, and we should lead the way.”

Combs said most Catholics will answer the call to support ADF. However, many believe others will provide the support necessary to fund the ministries of the Church. Unfor- tunately, they don’t view ADF as their responsibility. Combs called that thinking misguided and said support for the ADF is not about how much a person gives, it’s the fact they are willing to give that is most important. “If we believe in the Eucharist and believe in a united Roman Catholic Church, we must join hands and support the larger Church,”  Combs said.

“As Catholics, we have been asked to answer the call; to help our larger Church do its works in the service of God, through service to our fellow human beings, who are also members of this Church. We then, as members of the Catholic Church in Oklahoma, have a great responsibility. We have a responsibility to reach out to others, to all who are members of our Church and join hands for its betterment.”  

Combs said by supporting ADF, Catholics are standing solidly behind the call for evangelization. He said support for ADF equals support for Catholic education. It also helps provide a secure retirement for our many priests who have devoted their lives to serving God and His people.  Support for ADF equals support for Catholic Adult Formation and youth ministry. It’s sending less fortunate kids to summer camp and it’s reaching out to the aged among us, as well as those parishes that struggle financially, not for lack of faith, but because there is a lack of resources in their particular area.

Support for ADF equals support for those Catholics who have had their lives shattered by divorce. Their church does not burden them with fees while they are trying to get their emotional and spiritual life in order.  The Office of the Tribunal in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is one of very few that does not charge a fee to cover expenses of the Tribunal. It’s been that way for more than 30 years because of the support of our ADF.

Combs said support for the ADF is a way for Catholics to celebrate and share the gift of the universal Church.

“Our larger Church is represented by our Archdiocese, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, and our Archbishop,” he said. “We are made up of 116 parishes and missions, more than 101,000 Catholics and more than 35,000 Catholic families. There are many ministries and apostolates that the larger Church, the Archdiocesan Church, can offer and accomplish that we as a single parish cannot.  “It is our hope then, that all of us, Catholics throughout our Archdiocese, will reach out and let our light shine in ways that will continue to be pleasing to God.”