by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Most Catholics in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas are familiar with the Archbishop’s Call to Share (ACTS).
They hear Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann’s annual homily, asking for financial gifts to help dozens of ministries in the archdiocese survive and thrive in the work they do.
But the appeal wouldn’t be possible without the laity and clergy who meet each year to decide how to distribute its collection.
“Last year, we received gifts from 13,000 households,” said Father Mark Mertes, which totaled around $7 million.
“The purpose of this committee is to give people an assurance that the gifts they give are well-vetted and cared for,” he said.
This year, the 13 members of the ACTS Allocation Review Committee gathered at the archdiocesan church offices in Kansas City, Kansas, on March 18 for their annual meeting.
The committee is made up of volunteers, including clergy and laymen and women from around the archdiocese.
“As moderator of the curia, I convene the committee, which is a subcommittee of the presbyteral council, to review the proposed allocations for the Archbishop’s Call to Share,” said Father Mertes.
Carla Mills, CFO for the archdiocese, solicits grant requests from the ministries, which are selected by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. She examines the budgets and gathers all the information necessary for the committee to review.
This year, 42 ministries are being supported by Call to Share.
“Some of them are really clear about what their needs are going forward and what they need the money for,” said Mills. “Some of them are really only funded by Archbishop’s Call to Share.”
The committee looks at excerpts about the ministries, their financial histories and service reports about why their work is important and what they’ve done to be successful, said Mills. The meeting takes about four hours.
The committee’s recommendations are brought to the presbyteral council and ultimately to Archbishop Naumann, who signs off on the final decisions.
“The request is that people give one percent of their income to the Archbishop’s Call to Share,” said Father Mertes. “We want people to know that those monies are wisely spent, and especially when you’re covering so many different ministries.”
This was Robert Niehues Jr.’s first year serving on the committee. A parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca, he was asked to join by Father Mertes.
“I found it very rewarding,” he said.
Niehues is retired from a career in banking, compliance and internal auditing and has been involved in several parish and archdiocesan initiatives.
He was excited to represent the Nemaha-Marshall Deanery.
“One of the things you hear a lot is all the money goes to Kansas City,” said Niehues, but he was impressed by the variety of ministries included.
“There are lots of different ministries — from the deaf ministry to hospice,” he said.
Niehues enjoyed being part of the process.
“You get to know more about the diocese, and then you get to see how it really operates,” he said. “You represent your region, and maybe you can help your region.”
Niehues was excited to meet with Catholics from other parts of the archdiocese, to hear their concerns and express his.
“One of the things I’m excited about is how do we keep our youth when they make that transition from high school to college,” said Niehues. “And how do you keep them involved through their high school years to understand their Catholic faith?”
Mills said the committee takes each ministry’s request seriously and participates in frank discussions to do what’s best with the funds they’re working with.
“There is a formal, somewhat rigorous process to solicit how we’re going to be using these funds,” she said. “There’s good stewardship because we do it in a balanced fashion every year.”
None of it would be possible without the generosity of the archdiocesan community, said Mills.
“We are very grateful that we raise this kind of money in the archdiocese,” she said. “I think it says a lot about our Catholic population, how generous they are in making these gifts.”
Lisa McKelvey, executive director of the archdiocesan office of stewardship and development, is especially thankful for the volunteers who serve on the committee.
“I am grateful to the ACTS Allocation Committee for helping ensure that the generous gifts of the people of the archdiocese are stewarded responsibly,” she said, “and put into work in ministries to make the most impact in our Catholic community and our community at large.”
