Q. What is the from Age to Age Capital Campaign and what is its primary objective?
A. from Age to Age is a campaign, the largest in the history of the diocese, to raise $12 million. The primary objective of the campaign is to further enhance the mission of our Church here in the Diocese of Helena. This campaign will help address both current and future needs.

Q. What are the specific needs being addressed by the campaign?
A. The six specific needs addressed by the campaign are:
Youth ministry and young adult faith formation; priestly formation and development; care of our senior status priests; the Guatemalan Mission; local parish and mission support; and the 2008 Diocesan Offertory Program.

Q. How are the parishes asked to participate?
A. Each of the 58 parishes and 38 missions will participate in from Age to Age with the assistance of the campaign staff. The parishes will conduct their local campaigns during three different time periods (one starting in March, a second in June and the other beginning in September) through the end of 2008.

Q. How were the parish targets determined?
A. The parish targets are based on 121 percent of their 2007 annual Sunday and Holy Day collections. However, this campaign is based on a “Good Faith Effort,”and is NOT an assessment.

Q. How will parishioners be contacted during from Age to Age?
A. It is intended that every Catholic family within the diocese be presented with the needs and objectives of the campaign. This will be achieved in a variety of ways including receptions, pulpit announcements, mailings, brochures and a campaign video.

Q. Will the Diocesan Offertory Program be conducted during the five years of the campaign?
A. The 2008 DOP goal for each parish has been incorporated into the from Age to Age campaign. However, in the other four years of the campaign redemption (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012) the DOP will be run separately in its regular form and time frame.

Q. What are receptions and what is their purpose?
A. Receptions held in parishes are simply informational gatherings that provide an opportunity to learn about the campaign and ask for support. They emphasize the personal nature of giving, allow for a thorough presentation of the campaign needs and give parishioners an opportunity to ask questions. You will be asked to take the information home with you, to pray about your decision concerning a sacrificial gift to the campaign.

Q. How will from Age to Age affect parish-operating income?
A. In the short term, offertory giving should remain constant or even increase. Throughout the from Age to Age campaign, parishioners will be asked to make pledges above and beyond their regular giving. Parishioners are not asked to diminish giving to their parishes, but rather, are asked to consider a greater sacrifice and commitment to their Church. In the long term, similar campaigns in many parishes have enhanced offertory levels and parish stewardship.

Q. Are there forms of giving other than cash?
A. Please remember that gifts of stock and gifts of property are acceptable ways to donate to this campaign. Also there are many tax benefits to giving from an individual’s IRA. Please consult your financial advisor for more information, and then call Beth Yeakel at (800) 584-8914 ext. 36 if interested.

Q. How much should I give to the from Age to Age Capital Campaign?
A. All parishioners are asked to consider a sacrificial gift to the campaign in the spirit of Christian stewardship. Parishioners are asked to prayerfully consider a specific gift plan in accordance with their own means and circumstances. Pledges are payable over a five-year period. The principles of stewardship promote equal sacrifices, rather than equal gifts.

Q. Why are pledges encouraged, instead of one-time donations?
A. Pledges provide parishioners with the opportunity to make a more significant gift to the mission of the Church. A contribution is easier to pay off over a period of time rather than out of pocket.

Q. Will any of these funds be used for items other than the six designated elements?
A. Absolutely NOT. The funds raised for from Age to Age will be used exclusively for the six elements. The diocese has both a legal and moral obligation to restrict these funds for the six stated elements after the campaign costs are realized.

Q. How does the parish-sharing portion of the campaign work?
A. Every parish is given a campaign target, which includes their 2008 DOP obligation. Once a parish raises their 2008 DOP goal, they will receive 20 percent of all funds raised up to their overall campaign target. After a parish surpasses their overall parish target, 80 percent of the funds raised will be returned to the parish. All parish sharing is based on cash received.

Q. Will the Diocese be updating us about when and where the money is spent?
A. Yes, the Diocese will release a report detailing the pledges realized, where these monies are being spent and the good the campaign is doing throughout the diocese.

Q. What is the DOP currently funding?
A. The offertory program funds: Catholic Formation, Social Outreach, Vocations, Formation and Priests’ Assistance, World Wide Church Needs, Consultative Councils to the Bishop, Pastoral Outreach, Media Communications, Historical Church Needs, Diocesan Tithing and DOP campaign expenses.

Q. Can parishioners designate where they wish their gift to be applied?
A. We encourage all parishioners throughout the diocese to give their gift to the entire campaign. However, if the parishioner wishes to designate their gift to one or more elements that are important to them, it is an available option.


These FAQs were provided by Guidance in Giving, the capital campaign consultants for the Diocese of Helena. Further questions can be addressed to Jackie Perry at the Guidance in Giving campaign office, located at 1003 11th Ave. in Helena; the office phone number is (406) 449-6900.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 24, No. 5, May 16, 2008.