Christ's Mission Appeal

Special Report

Christ's Mission Appeal

Impact Report

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When looking back on the past fiscal year, it seems it has gone by quickly—yet we have accomplished so much. Every week, we are doing more to serve the Lord’s people within the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. When I say “we,” it refers to all of us. From the ministries taking place in our 56 parishes to the programs developed or administered by diocesan team members, as his disciples, collectively, we are working together to continue the mission of Jesus Christ.

In the following pages, you will find our annual Impact Report highlighting a few of the many ministries that Christ’s Mission Appeal supports. These ministries focus on diocesan-wide programs, projects and enrichment opportunities that no one parish would likely have the resources to administer on their own. My chancery team is committed to being good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.

I am deeply grateful for your generous support of Christ’s Mission Appeal and am pleased to share this overview of how you have impacted our ministries. Yes, together as “A Diocese on Mission” we are doing exciting things here in the Diocese of Saginaw.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. Robert D. Gruss

Christ's Mission Appeal

… strengthens marriages

Marriage within the Catholic Church is much more than a union between a man and a woman – it is a sacrament, held with the same sanctity and importance as any other sacrament. But couples who experience the Sacrament of Matrimony are not exempt from trials or issues in their marriages.

The Diocese of Saginaw’s Marriage and Family Life Ministry helps couples to enrich their sacramental union through a variety of offerings, including the “Prepare and Enrich” ministry. With modules for premarital, married, parenting and other phases of wedded life together, couples complete assessments designed to identify strengths and areas of growth in relationships. A diocesan team member, trained in advising and providing appropriate resources, meets with couples during a period of sessions to address areas that growth may be fruitful, such as communication, conflict, finances, stress, roles in relationships, expectations, leisure activities and more.

Couples pay a fee for the initial assessment, but Christ’s Mission Appeal covers the balance of the ministry.

Christ's Mission Appeal

… supports faith-filled gatherings

In the more than 25 years since it opened, the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw Center for Ministry has been the site for hundreds of retreats, conferences, enrichment days, in-service gatherings, meetings and celebrations.

The Center for Ministry, which is located adjacent to the diocesan main offices in Saginaw, has meeting rooms that can accommodate small groups up to hundreds of participants and overnight guest rooms with private showers/baths, linens and other amenities. A variety of food service options are available.

More than 300 meetings and events take place every year, ranging from gatherings for all diocesan priests to monthly weekend sessions for the Diocese of Saginaw’s Lay Ecclesial Ministry Formation.

While there may be small fees to use guest rooms, meeting spaces and large banquet-style areas depending on the event, the cost is minimal compared to the fees that would be associated with renting space at an off-site hall or banquet facility. Funding through Christ’s Mission Appeal helps to support the services of the Center for Ministry.

In addition to being available for diocesan and parish use, the Center for Ministry has served as a venue for offering important services to the broader community, such as being a host site and organizational hub for an eight-week food giveaway program organized by the YMCA of Saginaw this summer.

Christ’s Mission Appeal…

… provides formation for our priests

Supporting our priests is an important part of the ministry of the Diocese of Saginaw. The diocese seeks to provide human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation for our priests. These areas of continued formation support our priests in building up the Church, proclaiming the Gospel and directly impacting our transformation in becoming “A Diocese on Mission,” but more specifically, helps ensure the success of Pillar 1 to “Love and Support a Unified Presbyterate on Mission.”

Some examples of what your Christ’s Mission Appeal contributions help fund for our priests include:

Annual Priests Convocational Assembly – an opportunity for our priests to gather for an off-site retreat to share in fraternity and participate in conference sessions for spiritual growth and renewal
Annual Priest Jubilarian Mass – celebrating priestly ordination anniversaries in gratitude for the blessing of the priests who serve our diocese
Diaconate and Priestly Mass Ordinations – celebrating the rite of ordination of seminarians to the diaconate and deacon candidates to the priesthood
Parish Administration – workshops to assist priests in navigating through the business aspects of managing a parish (human resource support, facility management, financial planning, etc.)
Strategic Planning for the Future of the Diocese – workshops for creating a culture of vocations in parishes, equipping priests and their parish communities in creating an environment whereby young people can begin to discern the Lord’s call in their lives.

Christ’s Mission Appeal made up about 50% of the 2024-25 diocesan budget

56 parishes

24,466 registered families

How Christ’s Mission Appeal dollars were spent:

Education, faith formation, vocations – 36.9%
Communications and community outreach – 13.8%
Support for the broader church – 11.7%
Parish support – 37.6%

The areas of funding and the programs within each:

Education, Faith Formation and Vocations

Youth and young adult programs
Education and training for faith formation leaders in parishes
Vocations recruitment
Seminarian support
Permanent deacon formation
Lay ministry training
Professional development for Catholic schools’ staff members

Communications and Community Outreach

Great Lakes Bay Catholic magazine
Livestreaming of Sunday morning Mass, First Fridays with Bishop Gruss and other liturgies from the Cathedral
Event photography and videography, email ministry, the diocesan website, promotion of ministry and events, social media outreach, printing services and more

Support for the Border Church

Catholic Family Service: offering mental and emotional health services in Saginaw and Bay counties, as well as guardianship and conservatorship services in Bay County
Campaign for Human Development
Mother Teresa Fund: providing financial assistance to individuals or couples experiencing limited financial resources while awaiting the birth of their child and/or during the initial period following birth

Parish Support

Continuing education for priests
Assistance and training for parish staff and volunteers in:
- Financial and strategic planning
- Christian service outreach
- Parish buildings evaluations
Coordination and staffing of all special diocesan liturgies such as the Chrism Mass, First Friday Mass, clergy funerals and ordinations
Certifications for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Assistance to parishes with construction or renovation projects
Assistance with communications for major projects
Workshops and seminars for parish staff members and parishioners
Marriage preparation
Resources for prison and jail ministries
Hispanic and multicultural ministries
Special liturgies and cultural celebrations
Translations and special materials for liturgies and evangelization
Assistance to migrant laborer populations
Safe Environment training to protect the young and vulnerable