Giving

The campaign for the annual Bishop’s Ministries Appeal begins this weekend to raise money for a variety of ministries, services, and programs from the diocese that benefit many throughout the East Bay.  The appeal goal for us at Sacred Heart is $9,100.  If our parish exceeds this goal, all additional money will be returned to us in the form of a rebate check.  

Donations may be a one-time gift or through monthly offerings (due Dec. 31, 2023). Checks are to be made out to:  Bishop’s Ministries Appeal or Diocese of Oakland NOT Sacred Heart.  Parish members can give online too at the Bishop’s Ministry Appeal website: https://oakdiocese.org/bishops-appeal-donation-page. Please read below for more information on how the Bishop's Appeal is impactful in and around our diocese. 

The word “Catholic” means “universal,” and our faith cares for all our sisters and brothers regardless of the parish in which they worship. One should give to the Appeal because there are certain ministries and services that cannot be provided by a parish but only by a diocese. With your support, the diocese recruits, educates and forms seminarians, pays a pension and needed medical care for our retired clergy, supports a diaconate program and ethnic minorities.  The diocese also supports schools and other parishes facing financial distress or an unexpected emergency. Some people may say that as long as we support our parish, we should not be concerned with the needs of other parishes, schools, recruitment, education and formation of our future clergy, and forming our youth and young adults in our faith beyond our own parish. Through the Bishop’s Appeal, the diocese is able to carry out these ministries and services which is only possible through the generosity of our parishioners. 

 

 

Diocesan pastoral ministries and services focus on strengthening our faith, our families, and building up our parish communities by engaging people in the daily life of the Church as they strive to live as faithful disciples of Christ.
 • Liturgy
 • Respect Life Justice Programs
 • Vietnamese, Filipino & Latino Ministries
 • Ethnic Pastoral Centers
 • Marriage & Family Life Ministries
 • Marriage Preparation Programs
 • Youth Retreat Center
 • Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Programs
 • Catholic Scouting
 • Young Adult Ministries
 • Children & Youth Ministries
 • Stewardship Education
 
 Religious Education & Formation

 

Gifts to the Bishop's Appeal help support religious education and formation programs for thousands of youth and adults annually.
 • Faith Formation Programs
 • Evangelization & Outreach Efforts
 • RCIA (Right of Christian Initiation of Adults)
 • Religious Education Teachers’ Training
 • Serra Catechetical Institute
 • St. Francis de Sales School for Pastoral Ministry

 

 

From initial formation into retirement, the Diocese provides support for our priests. Additionally continued updating and renewal for priests and deacons who faithfully serve our people is supported by your gift to the Bishop’s Appeal.
 • Permanent Diaconate Program
 • Office of Vocations
 • Seminarian Education & Formation
 • Priest Retirement & Long-term Care
 • Continuing Education Programs

 

 

Each year, the Diocese provides subsidies and grants to assist with operating expenses at inner-city Catholic schools, and for parishes facing extraordinary and immediate financial challenges.
 • Operating Subsidies
 • Capital Expenditure Grants
 • Emergency Funding Support

 

 

Every parish has its own needs and plans for growth and new ministries to better serve their parishioners and the local community. The Bishop’s Appeal will again return 100% of all monies collected above each individual parish’s goal for use at the parish level.

 

 

Providing a safe haven for children, young adults and vulnerable adults.