Alleluia! He is Risen!
It is our continuing commitment to you to share how the funds received during the 2017-18 Appeal support the ministries, programs and services provided to the Catholic faithful in all 62 parishes of the Diocese of Lubbock.
Your contribution to the DCA supports the lives of active priests through retreats, sabbaticals, workshops and financial emergencies. Your parish pastor has or will attend the following events and your DCA gift helped financially support them.
Recollection Days are spiritual direction opportunities preparing priests for important upcoming liturgical seasons. These days are held in the spring, during Lent, and in the fall before Advent.
The Priest Assembly is a gathering that focuses on the temporal life of a priest. Topics vary year to year. This year’s assembly responded to Bishop Coerver’s Letter on the Financial State of the Diocese. 
The Priest Retreat is held in San Angelo over four days. Like many retreats expenses include room and board, meals, materials and speaker expenses. Speakers are usually priests, monsignors or even bishops from other dioceses. Everyone finds comfort in sharing this retreat experience with fellow priests.
A Priest Appreciation Day is put on by the diocese each summer. It is usually out at Buffalo Springs Lake and includes meals and fellowship. Priests enjoy hiking, swimming, fishing and kicking back with one another during this day.
Every ten years your parish pastor is eligible for a three-month sabbatical. This isn't a leisurely beach vacation. It’s three months of academic courses and spiritual renewal. Most priests hope to attend the Institute for Continuing Theological Education (ICTE) of the Pontifical North American College (PNAC) in Rome. Tuition, room and board range from $12,000 to $18,000. Airfare and personal expenses not included. Your DCA funding gives $10,000 per priest with the expectation priests and parishes fund the remaining costs
Your DCA funding also provides financial aid to priests in emergency situations. This doesn’t happen often, but sometimes a priest may need to leave town at the news of a death in the family or may have a large emergency medical expense. Often parishes can cover these expenses, but in our lower resources parishes your DCA support helps priests cover out-of-the-ordinary expenses. Thank you!