This weekend, Sept. 19 to 20, the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will commence its 2026 Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA) in parishes, inviting local faithful to “Be a Good Samaritan” — the theme for this year’s Appeal — in supporting the good works of the Church of Paterson for those in most need.
The annual DMA helps fund ministries that serve the poor, sick, and needy through diocesan Catholic Charities; city school students; educational needs for diocesan seminarians; and priests’ healthcare, including support for Nazareth Village, the diocesan home for retired priests in Chester.
For the Kick-Off Weekend, each parish’s Lay Appeal Chairperson will speak at Mass, encouraging participation in the 2026 DMA. The In-Pew Commitment Weekend will be Oct. 24 and 25. At that time, the pastor in each parish will play Bishop Sweeney’s DMA video or his audio homily at all Masses and lead the In-Pew process.
Last year, through the generosity of the faithful, the Appeal raised almost $5.7 million in pledges with almost $1.3 million in parish rebates.
In a video to promote the 2026 DMA, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney said Jesus teaches us through the Parable of the Good Samaritan “that we are called to go to those who are in need to help our brothers and sisters who are most in need.”
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“Your support of the Appeal helps us…serve as Jesus calls us to serve. Thank you for your prayerful consideration, and I hope that you’ll be able to make a gift or a pledge to our annual appeal, and truly be a Good Samaritan,” Bishop Sweeney said in the video.
Last year will be the final allocation of DMA funds for a three-year, $600,000 grant for the complete renovation of Father English Food Pantry in Paterson, N.J., at $200,000 annually, said Tim Potter, diocesan development director.
“The food pantry assists thousands of people each month, and the building needed to be retrofitted to expand space for food and clothing,” Potter said. “The new layout also allows for space for people needing emergency services as well as English as a Second Language and computer classes. The incredible generosity of the faithful helped make this possible,” he said.
In addition to the usual support for Catholic Charities’ work, this year’s DMA is also funding the At-Risk Youth program in Paterson and providing funds to purchase a handicapped-accessible van to support the important work of the Department for Persons with Disabilities of Catholic Charities, Potter said.
The largest percentage of Appeal funds supports Catholic Charities. The agency reaches out to give help and hope to people in poverty with programs such as food pantries in each of the diocese’s three counties and emergency housing and homelessness prevention.
Catholic Charities also has programs that aid at-risk youth, people with physical and developmental disabilities, people with HIV/AIDS, senior citizens, veterans, and men and women battling addiction through the agency’s Straight and Narrow substance treatment program in Paterson.
The DMA also helps seminarians preparing for a lifetime of service to the Church by funding their education, as well as retired priests who have faithfully served the diocese for decades. The DMA supports priests’ extraordinary healthcare needs as well as Nazareth Village, the diocesan priests’ retirement residence in Chester, N.J.
The generous support of the Diocesan Ministries Appeal has made it possible to provide a faith-filled, excellent Catholic education to students in economically challenged urban areas — a mission that continues to thrive.
Through the Parish Rebate program, half of the amount received over the parish goal is returned to parishes for their own needs. Last year’s Appeal returned almost $1.3 million directly to parishes.
Potter said the Appeal theme, “Be A Good Samaritan,” is “a reminder that we are called to care for our neighbors in need. The Diocesan Ministries Appeal is a concrete way to make that happen. When you give to the Appeal, you are truly transforming lives.”
There are ways to give to DMA:
• One-time gift or pledges paid over several months with reminders sent for your convenience.
• Credit card contributions- see information on your pledge card or call 973-777-8818, ext. 263 for details.
• Online gifts- go to www.2026appeal.org andfollow instructions for pledging.
• Recurring monthly gift– visit www.2026appeal.org and choose the Recurring Gift Option that will help people in need now and in the future. You can discontinue your recurring gift at any time. For more information, call 973-777-8818, ext. 263.
• Gifts can also be made through stocks, matching gifts, and/or an IRA. The EIN is 22-1493174. Make donations under the organization name: Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Contact Aimee Landestoy at 973-777-8818 ext. 282 after you make your gift so we can credit your donation properly.
Brighten lives of those in need through Diocesan Ministries Appeal #Catholic –
This weekend, Sept. 19 to 20, the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will commence its 2026 Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA) in parishes, inviting local faithful to “Be a Good Samaritan” — the theme for this year’s Appeal — in supporting the good works of the Church of Paterson for those in most need.
The annual DMA helps fund ministries that serve the poor, sick, and needy through diocesan Catholic Charities; city school students; educational needs for diocesan seminarians; and priests’ healthcare, including support for Nazareth Village, the diocesan home for retired priests in Chester.
For the Kick-Off Weekend, each parish’s Lay Appeal Chairperson will speak at Mass, encouraging participation in the 2026 DMA. The In-Pew Commitment Weekend will be Oct. 24 and 25. At that time, the pastor in each parish will play Bishop Sweeney’s DMA video or his audio homily at all Masses and lead the In-Pew process.
Last year, through the generosity of the faithful, the Appeal raised almost $5.7 million in pledges with almost $1.3 million in parish rebates.
In a video to promote the 2026 DMA, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney said Jesus teaches us through the Parable of the Good Samaritan “that we are called to go to those who are in need to help our brothers and sisters who are most in need.”
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“Your support of the Appeal helps us…serve as Jesus calls us to serve. Thank you for your prayerful consideration, and I hope that you’ll be able to make a gift or a pledge to our annual appeal, and truly be a Good Samaritan,” Bishop Sweeney said in the video.
Last year will be the final allocation of DMA funds for a three-year, $600,000 grant for the complete renovation of Father English Food Pantry in Paterson, N.J., at $200,000 annually, said Tim Potter, diocesan development director.
“The food pantry assists thousands of people each month, and the building needed to be retrofitted to expand space for food and clothing,” Potter said. “The new layout also allows for space for people needing emergency services as well as English as a Second Language and computer classes. The incredible generosity of the faithful helped make this possible,” he said.
In addition to the usual support for Catholic Charities’ work, this year’s DMA is also funding the At-Risk Youth program in Paterson and providing funds to purchase a handicapped-accessible van to support the important work of the Department for Persons with Disabilities of Catholic Charities, Potter said.
The largest percentage of Appeal funds supports Catholic Charities. The agency reaches out to give help and hope to people in poverty with programs such as food pantries in each of the diocese’s three counties and emergency housing and homelessness prevention.
Catholic Charities also has programs that aid at-risk youth, people with physical and developmental disabilities, people with HIV/AIDS, senior citizens, veterans, and men and women battling addiction through the agency’s Straight and Narrow substance treatment program in Paterson.
The DMA also helps seminarians preparing for a lifetime of service to the Church by funding their education, as well as retired priests who have faithfully served the diocese for decades. The DMA supports priests’ extraordinary healthcare needs as well as Nazareth Village, the diocesan priests’ retirement residence in Chester, N.J.
The generous support of the Diocesan Ministries Appeal has made it possible to provide a faith-filled, excellent Catholic education to students in economically challenged urban areas — a mission that continues to thrive.
Through the Parish Rebate program, half of the amount received over the parish goal is returned to parishes for their own needs. Last year’s Appeal returned almost $1.3 million directly to parishes.
Potter said the Appeal theme, “Be A Good Samaritan,” is “a reminder that we are called to care for our neighbors in need. The Diocesan Ministries Appeal is a concrete way to make that happen. When you give to the Appeal, you are truly transforming lives.”
There are ways to give to DMA:
• One-time gift or pledges paid over several months with reminders sent for your convenience.
• Credit card contributions- see information on your pledge card or call 973-777-8818, ext. 263 for details.
• Online gifts- go to www.2026appeal.org andfollow instructions for pledging.
• Recurring monthly gift– visit www.2026appeal.org and choose the Recurring Gift Option that will help people in need now and in the future. You can discontinue your recurring gift at any time. For more information, call 973-777-8818, ext. 263.
• Gifts can also be made through stocks, matching gifts, and/or an IRA. The EIN is 22-1493174. Make donations under the organization name: Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Contact Aimee Landestoy at 973-777-8818 ext. 282 after you make your gift so we can credit your donation properly.