What Does the ADA Support?

The Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA) is the major fundraising effort conducted annually throughout our 23‐county Diocese with all parishes participating. The appeal provides over 2/3 of the operating revenue the Diocese needs to fulfill its vital mission on an annual basis. Your support strengthens ministries —forming seminarians, serving the poor, providing youth faith formation, and so much more. Every contribution advances our local Church where God’s love is encountered, shared, and celebrated.

ADA Fast Facts

  • The ADA provides more than 2/3 of the funding to support our parishes of Southwest Iowa.
  • Each parish has a goal that is fundraised rather than assessed as a cathedraticum (a tax that is charged to the parishes to cover operating costs of the chancery, health insurance, and/or pension expenses). 
  • Every parish meeting their parish goal has the opportunity to receive 100% of payments received above and beyond their parish goal. 
  • Donors may choose a one time gift, a recurring (ongoing) gift or a pledge that may be paid over 10 months from March through December and every gift is tax-deductible.
  • The average gift in 2025 was $588
  • A total of 8,415 households contributed to the 2025 Appeal (as of January 2026).
  • The goal of each parish is 100 % participation through prayer and/or gifts. 
  • We ask that each and every family of our Diocese pray for the success of the Appeal and consider a gift to the Appeal. 
  • Every gift matters. No gift is too small!

ADA Impact

The Annual Diocesan Appeal provides more than $5.2 million in essential support and 64% of ministry and operational needs on an annual basis. This is your faith in action.

Clergy Care and Vocations (includes health care and retirement)

  • 48 active priests with medical and insurance provided exclusively by the Diocese
  • 34 retired priests with medical care and retirement income        
  • 30 international priests with U.S. citizenship and immigration services
  • 14 seminarians with formation and tuition expenses
  • 95 active and retired deacons with training, education and support
  • 18 men in diaconate formation with scheduled ordination of September 2028

Catholic Formation and Education

  • 8,821 Children receive a holistic education in our Catholic schools
  • 16 Catholic Schools with professional training, supervision and oversight
  • 467 Catholic School Teachers
  • 8,821 Children encounter Christ in parish faith formation
  • 1,245 Catechists and Youth Ministers
  • 1,575 New members of the faith through Baptism
  • 1,606 Communicants received the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time
  • 1,739 Confirmands sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit

Ministries and Worship

  • More than 40,000 Hispanic, Vietnamese, Burmese and various other Catholics with cultural outreach ministry needs
  • 4 Catholic hospitals offering Mass, Communion and Anointing of the Sick
  • 309 Individuals undergoing marriage preparation
  • 40 Active youth ministries
  • Active Young Adult programs and Young Catholic Network
  • Disability Ministry providing ASL interpreting services, adaptive resources, Disability Ministry training and adaptive formation resources

Parish Services and Administration

  • Bishop's Office and support
  • 4,948 employees and volunteers undergo screening ad training to ensure a safe environment for our children
  • 2031 Employees, 1089 with managed benefit plans
  • 79 parishes across 23 counties with ministry and administrative services
  • 31,134 Households receiving The Catholic Mirror via print and online

Catholic Charities and other Needs

  • More than 35,000 served through Catholic Charities – food pantries, refuge, domestic violence, counseling, shelters and more