Archdiocese Capital Campaign Surpasses $50M in Pledges

The Archdiocese of Detroit’s capital stewardship initiative, Changing Lives Together, has received more than $50 million in pledges from generous parishioners at 124 Catholic parishes in southeastern Michigan. More than 35,000 pledges have been collected from Catholics in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, St. Clair and Lapeer counties. The primary objective of the five-year campaign, which started in 2011, is to strengthen the archdiocese’s 267 local parishes.

“Word is spreading, pledges are being fulfilled, and parishes are getting stronger,” said Mike Vlasic, chairman of the Changing Lives Together steering committee. “Parishes are reinvigorating their ministries, improving their facilities, and increasing participation in sacramental life, which is exactly what we want to achieve through this initiative.”

The $50 million milestone has been reached as 67 more parishes get ready to begin participating in the campaign this summer. Seventy percent of funds raised in the campaign can be used by the participating parish. The remaining 30 percent is earmarked for three purposes: strengthening Catholic presence in the city of Detroit; assisting Catholic families to attend Catholic schools; and the formation of both ordained and lay leaders for the future of the local Church.

To learn more about the Changing Lives Together capital campaign, visit the campaign website at www.aodclt.org.