Centennial Campaign: 

Building Our Future Together

Donate today to the
Centennial Campaign

Deeply inspired by our beliefs, the Centennial Campaign is a celebration of a shared past. We look to the future, as we share our plentiful gifts and continue to commit ourselves to the mission of our Church. Through our participation, our stewardship, and our generosity, we can respond to the needs of our Church.

Through the Centennial Campaign, we will share our faith and contribute to future generations, ensuring that they will also experience God’s love and live in the light of Christ in the Diocese of Lafayette. 

Local Parish Initiatives 

30% of funds raised up to a parish’s goal will be returned to the parish. Once a parish surpasses goal, 50% of funds raised above the parish’s goal will be returned to parishes for local needs determined by the pastor and/or parish council. Funds can be used for renovation and expansion of existing structures to spiritual and educational formation. Funds can be used to reduce debt, generate income to strengthen and expand parish ministries and services, to carry forth their mission.

Seminarian Education 

A portion of the funds will be invested in the Seminarian Education Endowment Fund in support of the seminarians who are being trained as priests for our Diocese. At the start of the 2019-2020 school year, 36 men are in various stages of formation. As the cost of seminarian education increases, as well as the number of men entering into the Seminary, we need to position ourselves to have the financial resources to educate and train our future servant leaders.

Priest Retirement 

A portion of the funds raised in this campaign will be dedicated to caring for our retired priests. We seek to adequately fund the Priests’ Welfare Trust so we can pay an equitable pension to our retired priests. After a lifetime of service, our priests deserve a dignified retirement that supports their modest daily needs. In addition, some of our retired priests require the services of an assisted living facility, skilled nursing, or long-term care. We want to ensure that our retired priests have adequate late-in-life care while maintaining personal dignity and independence.

Catholic Student Centers 

A portion of campaign funds will be used to subsidize building a new Catholic Student Center at UL Lafayette and a dedicated chapel at LSUE. A Catholic student center serves as a welcoming presence of the Church on a university campus and gives students an opportunity to develop a more Christ-centered life during their collegiate years.

Catholic Outreach and Services 

A portion of the funds raised will support ministries throughout the Diocese for our  most vulnerable. The Diocese will create the Matthew 25 Endowment for Service to the Poor for parish-based social service centers. A portion of these funds will also aid capital improvements for Catholic Charities of Acadiana and the Deaf Action Center.

While God can’t be outdone in generosity, the Gospel asks all of us to give generously of our gifts in thanksgiving for God’s generosity and goodness. Your gift to the Centennial Campaign: Building Our Future Together is an opportunity to leave a legacy for generations to come.  Your gift supports the following:

• Seminarian Education
• Priests' Welfare Trust for retired clergy
• Catholic Student Centers at LSU-E and UL-Lafayette
• Matthew 25 Endowment for services and ministries to the poor
• Capital improvements for Catholic Charities of Acadiana and the Deaf Action Center
• Local parish initiatives for capital projects, spiritual and education formation, debt reduction, and expansion of services.

Each person’s financial situation differs from others. The Centennial Campaign seeks sacrificial gifts and pledges over a five-year period from all parishioners, so that our Church may continue to maintain its important role in the lives of so many. Gifts can be accepted in a variety of forms, with an emphasis on those that can be used immediately. All gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law.