The We Stand With Christ Campaign will address significant priorities and help the Church in Fairfield County meet the challenges and opportunities we face now and for decades to come.  The transformative objectives of We Stand With Christ are:

• Strengthening local parishes to encourage a vibrant Catholic life;
• Ensuring the future of Catholic education;
• Enriching religious education, faith formation and youth ministries;
• Providing for the future care of retired priests;
• Educating and forming young men for the Catholic priesthood;
• Meeting the pastoral needs of the elderly in nursing homes;
• Supporting those with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
• Increasing participation in parish life and deepening evangelization;
• Expanding works of charity for the poor and disenfranchised.

For parishes participating in We Stand With Christ in 2019 there will not be a separate Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA).  The ACA Goal for 2019 is incorporated into the goal for the parish and the first monies received through We Stand With Christ will be directed towards the 2019 ACA. In 2020 the ACA will be conducted in all parishes as usual.

All parishes – and all parishioners – will benefit We Stand With Christ. With the assistance of Parish Campaign Directors every parish will participate in the campaign. Parishes will conduct their campaign between January and June 2019.  Each parish’s participation will be based on five (5) principles:

1. Prayer
2. Personal visitation
3. Proportionate giving
4. Phased approach
5. Pledged commitments

All funds to the campaign will be raised by We Stand With Christ, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation separate from the Diocese of Bridgeport. These funds will be overseen by a Board of Directors charged with ensuring the funds are used for their intended purpose.
Our parishes and the Foundations in Faith, Education and Charity will receive the funds raised through We Stand With Christ on a quarterly basis after the conclusion of active fundraising. Each of the three foundations are individual 501c3 non-profit organizations separate from the Diocese of Bridgeport and each foundation is governed by a lay board with a fiduciary responsibility to ensure the funds are used only as intended. None of the money raised in the campaign will be used for the settlement of past, present, or future legal cases or for purposes unrelated to the case statement.

All funds to the campaign will be raised by We Stand With Christ, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation separate from the Diocese of Bridgeport. These funds will be overseen by a Board of Directors charged with ensuring the funds are used for their intended purpose. Our parishes and the Foundations in Faith, Education and Charity will receive the funds raised through We Stand With Christ on a quarterly basis after the conclusion of active fundraising. Each of the three foundations are individual 501c3 non-profit organizations separate from the Diocese of Bridgeport and each foundation is governed by a lay board with a fiduciary responsibility to ensure the funds are used only as intended. None of the money raised in the campaign will be used for the settlement of past, present, or future legal cases or for purposes unrelated to the case statement.

The active fundraising phase of the campaign is from January to June 2019.  Donors are encouraged to make pledges of up to 5 years (60 months) to allow them the flexibility to be as generous as they would like to be.

Gifts made above the $25,000 level may be restricted to the donor’s intention, but must be made to the needs outlined within the We Stand With Christ case for support

Every household in the parish will be asked to prayerfully consider making a financial pledge to We Stand With Christ.

Please consult our Ways to Give page for more information about the many ways you can fulfill your pledge.

Pledges can be paid monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or annually.

Please make your check out to “We Stand With Christ.”

Providing a parish has made a good faith effort and attempted to follow the campaign plan, it will receive fifty cents ($.50) on every dollar collected, less expenses and ACA, even if it does not reach its target.