History & Purpose

The Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA) is the major source of revenue for the ministries and agencies of the Diocese of Peoria. It is these ministries that enable the Church of Peoria, under the direction of the Bishop, to reach across parish boundaries in the areas of Worship/Prayer, Christian Education, Christian Service, and Church Administration, among others.

Until the first Appeal in 1986 the Diocese of Peoria had been financed in part by a tax on parishes. Each parish sent a required assessment to the diocese to fund diocesan services and programs. However, in the final years this assessment was providing less and less of the funding required, and former Bishop Edward W. O'Rourke was faced with the difficult task of substantially increasing the tax on parishes or seeking an alternative.

It is history that Bishop O'Rourke selected the alternative means-- namely, the Annual Diocesan Appeal (formerly called the Annual Stewardship Appeal). By utilizing this annual appeal, the diocese can continue its valuable services while having a minimal effect upon parish incomes. At the same time, the parish tax has been abolished entirely. By comparison, many dioceses today have both an annual appeal and a parish assessment.

A Diocese is, after all, a union of parishes, presided over by a Bishop and organized to fulfill Christ's mission in a given geographical area. While the work of Christ is done chiefly in the parishes, there are many tasks which require the administration and efforts of the larger Church, the Diocese.