ROMA returns to OLPH roots

2015, administration, May 2015 edition
An update from the advancement office | 256px-ph-spring-2015-final-high-res-1

Realizing that the majority of donors are devoted to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and support the Congregation’s mandate to make Mary known, the Redemptorist Office for Mission Advancement returned to its roots and began using the Perpetual Help Center name earlier this year. Donors are responding favorably, with an increase in charitable gifts of $54,003 (or 31 percent) during the first three months of 2015 when compared to the same period last year.

The change is appropriate, given the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX’s entrusting the miraculous icon to the Congregation in 1866.

In addition to the increase in giving, the staff has received numerous notes and e-mails from people who appreciate the change, including alumni, associates, confreres, and donors. Especially noteworthy is the positive feedback we’ve received in response to our redesigning the Province’s newsletter, formerly Plentiful Redemption, and renaming it Perpetual Help magazine.

Despite a return to the Perpetual Help Center name, it’s important for confreres to know that the program will continue to function as the Province’s advancement office. With Jim Link leading efforts to raise funds on behalf of Provincial ministries and Mary Weaver serving as communications director for the Province, the staff will persist in advancing the Province’s mission.

Mary will continue to maintain the Province website, issue press releases, and produce a wide range of publications and promotional materials. Jim and his colleagues on the development staff will continue to help coordinate parish missions, raise funds for our men in formation and retirement, and promote devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

In addition, the staff is working on a variety of special projects at the request of the Extraordinary Provincial Council. These include 1) developing website templates that may be used by parishes and retreat houses that want them, 2) raising funds to help maintain Mission Church and renovate the Neumann Shrine, 3) supporting the vocation director by developing and placing ads that help recruit prospective candidates, and 4) helping plan and coordinate events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the icon’s being entrusted to the community.

Mary Weaver can be reached at mary@redemptorists.net and 410-271-7552. Jim Link can be reached at jlink@redemptorists.net and 410-990-1680.