YOUNGSTOWN — Despite only a 30 percent diocesanwide household participation rate last year, the Youngstown Catholic Diocese still managed to raise approximately $3.8 million for its annual Bishop’s Appeal.

The goal for the 2020 appeal is $4 million, but Bishop George Murry said even more important is getting a 100 percent participation rate from the 61,733 registered households in the six-county diocese. Last year, only 18,400 households participated, with an average gift amount of $208.93 — or $17 per month.

However, Murry said last year represented a 30 percent increase in participation over 2018, with 1,800 new donors. In addition, Murry said 53 parishes increased their participation rate in 2019.

Murry gave a presentation on the appeal to parish leaders and priests from Trumbull and Ashtabula counties Jan. 16 at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Warren. Similar presentations were given Jan. 15 at St. Charles Parish in Boardman for Mahoning and Columbiana counties, and on Jan. 17 at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in North Canton.

The 2019 appeal was the first year that parishioners across the diocese were asked to give to the appeal in three ways: making a financial gift, praying for the church and the appeal or volunteering in a parish or diocesan ministry. As long as parishes participated in one of the ways and filled out participation cards, they were given credit, according to Stephen Carattini, director of social concerns for Catholic Charities and facilitator of the appeal for the second year.

Carattini said the diocese is urging parishes to make sure their parishioners fill out the cards and return them even if they are not donating money. Cards will be sent out starting Feb. 10 to last year’s financial donors as well as those who did not participate in one of the three ways during the 2019 campaign. A sample letter from Murry states that 642 households opted to pray for the Church and 163 households elected to volunteer.

“Prayer is important. Please continue to pray for me, your parish and the Diocese,” Murry said. “All three ways are equally important, and some people check all three boxes.”

Announcements about the appeal will be made during Masses and in church bulletins the weekend of Feb. 22 and 23.

“We would like to see 100 percent participation this year,” Carattini said.

The parish with the highest participation rate last year was St. Joseph in Maximo in Stark County, according to a handout given at the Jan. 16 presentation. The parish had an 82 percent participation rate, with 126 of its 154 parishes taking part, the handout shows. The parish committed $41,662.40 to the Bishop’s Appeal.

“Praise be to God for the generosity of the community in spite of area job losses,” Carattini said.

Church ministries supported by the appeal are Catholic Charities Regional Agency, Catholic Charities Serving Portage and Stark counties, Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County, Diocese of Youngstown Department for Social Concerns, Office of Catholic Charities, Office of Pro-Life, Marriage and Family Ministry, Office of Evagelization and Lay Formation, Office of Vocations, Seminarian Formation, Office of the Tribunal, Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Catholic Television Network of Youngstown and the Office of Religious Education.

The active solicitation period ends May 31, but people still can donate throughout the year, Carattini said. A handout shows that if 20,000 households participate this year — an increase of just 1,600 — the appeal will reach its $4 million goal, while 25,000 households participating would raise an additional $1 million.

Carattini said the majority of yearly donors are over 70 and on fixed incomes, but “still continue to give year after year.”

There are 87 parishes in the Youngstown Diocese.

mkosinski@tribtoday.com