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Bishop Burbidge Establishes Diocese of Raleigh Home Mission Society
The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge has announced the creation of the Diocese of Raleigh Home Mission Society, a program designed to assist small, rural communities in the Diocese to build places of sacred worship.
Bishop Burbidge officially announced the program in his Thanksgiving Day homily at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh.
“I am pleased to announce today the establishment of the Diocese of Raleigh Home Mission Society, which will work to secure funding for the construction and furnishing of churches and chapels in the mission areas of the diocese,” Bishop Burbidge said. “Many of these locations have seen a dramatic increase in the number of immigrant, working class Catholics who are currently unable to fund construction of the churches needed for them and their children.
Bishop Burbidge noted the Diocese of Raleigh Home Mission Society follows “the Gospel mandate to proclaim the Good News to all the ends of the earth.”
“Like my predecessors,” the Bishop said, “I share the dream of establishing Catholic churches throughout the small towns and rural areas of Eastern Northern Carolina, and I ask for your support and prayers.”
The concept of the Diocese of Raleigh Home Mission Society was proposed by the Very Reverend Dr. James F. Garneau, V.F., Pastor of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Mount Olive, one of a number of small churches unable to accommodate its overflow attendance.
“Churches like the one in Mt. Olive were built for a much smaller Catholic presence,” Father Garneau explained. “Now with immigration both from the North and the South, we have greater numbers but fewer economic resources.”
Bishop Burbidge has appointed Father Garneau to chair an Advisory Board that will coordinate and oversee the Diocese of Raleigh Home Mission Society. Among its initial tasks:
- Define the “Mission” area of the Diocese, and define what “Mission” means in the context of the Diocese of Raleigh Mission Society.
- Determine the amount of the need, both current and project needs.
- Prioritize the needs and make funding recommendations.
- Recommend funding options and processes.
The Diocesan Presbyteral Council, Diocesan Finance Council and Bishop’s Annual Appeal Steering Committee recommended an increase in the 2008 Bishop’s Annual Appeal goal that includes initial funding for the Diocese of Raleigh Home Mission Society. In addition, the Society will consider additional sources of funding to include:
- Benefactors and friends of the Diocese who have a special interest in supporting mission churches and would be able to make restricted donations to the Society.
- A mission appeal collection in parishes that would augment any BAA funds for the construction projects and the running of the Society office.
- Establishment of parish partnerships, where a large parish ‘adopts’ a mission church. The Diocese has a successful history of partnerships.
Under the program, funding recommendations will be submitted to the Bishop by the Advisory Board for approval.