Bishop Daniel Felton: New appeal name and logo released

Believe in the Good News 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

We are living in missionary times. We are a missionary diocese. Our priests are called to be missionary priests, and our people are called to be missionary disciples. 

We can no longer assume that people have even the most basic understanding of Jesus or what it means to be Catholic or Christian. As missionary disciples we need to share our testimonies and offer evidence of the Holy Spirit moving throughout our diocese, which will lead us to healing, hope, and joy in Jesus. We need to bring healing to places where people are hurting, hope to areas of life filled with despair and darkness, and a sense of joy to the great tribulations and challenges that people are finding in their lives. Over and over again, we have seen evidence of that healing taking place throughout the diocese. The clarity of our mission and vision, that we are disciples on mission accompanying and leading all people to Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, has provided evidence that we also need to evaluate and change our culture within the Diocese of Duluth. 

The change of culture has already started through the creation of the mission fields and the building of the cooperative relationship between the Pastoral Center and the mission fields. Now is the perfect time to keep moving the change of culture forward in respect to our annual diocesan appeal. For more than 30 years, the diocesan appeal was known as the United Catholic Appeal. While that name served the diocese well during its lifetime, it has become evident that our mission calls us in a new direction. So, after much work, consultation, and prayer, I am excited to announce the new name and theme for our diocesan appeal: “The Ministries Appeal: Our Mission Made Real.” 

The new name, The Ministries Appeal, is not about the administration but rather the ministries that we share as the Diocese of Duluth that bring alive our mission and our vision. We are living in a time when we need to reach out and make real the mission that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit have given to us by strengthening the collective ministries that bring home our mission and make it real. 

You will see a new look, which will include three ministry “buckets”: Education & Family, Evangelization & Outreach, and Vocation & Clergy Support. These buckets allow for the ministries to come alive in the Holy Spirit, so that we can live our mission and bring people closer to Jesus Christ, that we may know the healing, hope, and joy that we can only find in Jesus. 

Over the next few months, as we launch and conduct The Ministries Appeal, pray for its continued success. In the upcoming April issue of The Northern Cross there will be more in-depth information on The Ministries Appeal. Truly, it is incredible to see how the Holy Spirit is moving throughout our diocese. 

Bishop Daniel Felton is the tenth Bishop of Duluth.