What Does the ADA Support?

The Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA) is the major fundraising effort conducted annually throughout our 23‐county Diocese with all parishes participating. The appeal provides almost three-fourths of the operating revenue the Diocese needs to fulfill its vital mission on an annual basis. Through the ADA we are able to prepare disciples for the domestic church, welcome people into communion, cultivate a culture of servant leadership and draw young people into deeper communion.

ADA Fast Facts

  • The ADA provides 70% of the funding to support our parishes of Southwest Iowa.
  • Each parish has a goal that is fundraised rather than assessed as a cathedraticum (a tax that is charged to the parishes to cover operating costs of the Chancery, health insurance, and/or pension expenses). 
  • Every parish meeting their parish goal has the opportunity to receive 100% of payments received above and beyond their parish goal. 
  • Donors may choose a one time gift, a recurring (ongoing) gift or a pledge that may be paid over 10 months from March through December and every gift is tax-deductible.
  • The average gift in 2023 was $540
  • A total of 8,449 households contributed to the 2023 Appeal (as of January, 2024).
  • We ask that each and every family of our Diocese pray for the success of the Appeal and consider a gift to the Appeal. Every gift matters. No gift is too small!

ADA Impact

The Annual Diocesan Appeal provides more than $4.7 million in essential support and 72% of ministry and operational needs on an annual basis. This is your faith in action.

Inviting and Welcoming People into Communion

  • More than 40,000 Hispanic, Vietnamese, Burmese and various other Catholics with cultural outreach ministry needs
  • 4 Catholic hospitals offering Mass, Communion and Anointing of the Sick
  • 31,000 Households receiving The Catholic Mirror via print and digitally 
  • More than 21,000 served through Catholic Charities – including food pantries, refugee assistance, domestic violence shelters, counseling, and more
  • Disability Ministry providing ASL interpreting services, Adaptive resources, Disability Ministry Training and Adaptive Formation Resources

Preparing Disciples for the Domestic Church

  • 250 engaged couples undergoing marriage preparation
  • 61 Active and 52 Retired Deacons with training, education and support
  • 13 Seminarians with formation and tuition expenses
  • 21 Men in Diaconate Formation

Drawing Young People into Deeper Communion

  • 6,300 children receive a holistic education in our Catholic schools
  • 40 Active Youth Ministries
  • 473 youth from 32 parishes pilgrimage to NCYC
  • 16 Catholic Schools with professional training, supervision and oversight
  • 9,185 children encounter Christ in parish faith formation
  • 1,546 new members of the faith through Baptism
  • 1,650 Communicants received the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time
  • 1,392 Confirmands sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit

Cultivating a Culture of Servant Leadership

  • 46 active priests with medical and insurance provided exclusively by the Diocese
  • 36 retired priests with medical care and retirement income
  • 34 international priests with US Citizenship and immigration services
  • 21 Men in Diaconate Formation
  • Nearly 2,000 employees and volunteers undergo screening and training to ensure a safe environment for our children

Diocesan Administration

  • 80 parishes across 23 counties with ministry and administrative services
  • 1,700 Employees, 800 with managed benefit plans