BISHOP'S MINISTRIES APPEAL 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As you are aware every year the Diocese holds the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal.  Because of your generosity, the Appeal is able to support vital ministries which fall under the oversight of the Bishop’s Office and that benefit the entire Diocese. The theme for this year’s appeal is “One Faith. One Family, One Mission.”, which reflects the truth that more that individual parishes, we are one Diocese in outreach, service and ministry. 

Your gift to the 2026 Bishop’s Ministries Appeal provides the financial support for many essential needs of our own Diocese; many of which are ministries that no parish on its own could provide.  Each parish of the Diocese has an appeal goal that is determined by the Development Office of the Diocese.  This year our goal is the same as the last several years: $117,500.  To date, we have 112 donors from our parish who have helped us reach 29% of our goal in 2026.  Thank you to those who have got the ball rolling on our behalf.

As we celebrate our 125th Anniversary, you only need to look around our parish and community to realize God clearly has been gracious and extremely generous to us.  The appeal is a concrete way of we can share God’s generosity with our Catholic brothers and sisters throughout our diocese.  It is incumbent upon us to help fund necessary ministries for our Diocese outside our own parish.  I ask you to please support the Appeal this year.

It is important to point out that no money collected in the Appeal is used to pay off Diocesan debt or legal expenses.  None of the funds are redirected to other causes, nor can they be used for settlements in any legal case.  Donations to the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal also cannot be used to settle Bankruptcy claims.

Donations to the Bishop's Appeal are restricted for use exclusively in four different areas of ministry:
  • Pastoral Ministries and Services: This category includes ministries that no parish could provide on its own, such as Respect Life Justice programs, the Safe Environment for Children Program, the Youth Retreat Center in Lafayette, Diocesan wide Marriage Preparation retreats, CYO operations, Catholic Scouting, Young Adult and Children, Youth ministries and so much more.
  • Religious Education and Formation: including teacher training, evangelization and outreach efforts, and The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults(OCIA).
  • Clergy Formation and Support:  including the permanent Diaconate program, Priest retirement and long-term care, and ongoing Education Programs for Clergy.
  • Support for Catholic Schools and parishes in need: including operating subsidies, capital expenditure grants, and emergency funding support.

​If you have supported the Appeal in the past, you should have already received a letter from the Diocese asking for your continued support this year.  Informational brochures and Appeal pledge envelopes are available in the vestibule of the church for everyone.  Should you use one of the Appeal envelopes, you can mail it directly to the Diocese or drop it into any collection here at your parish.   

You can learn more, and donate to the Appeal online, by visiting https://www.oakdiocese.org/bishops-ministries-appeal.

Should you donate on-line please be sure, in the appropriate field, to let the Diocese know you wish your gift to be credited to the Catholic Community of Pleasanton.  You will be able to select our parish from a drop-down menu.   I recently made my pledge on-line and it was simple, fast, and convenient.

I realize that everyone’s financial situation is different.  The decision to support the Appeal you make is between you and God.  I ask you to please discuss your support of the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal with your family and prayerfully reflect upon the graces that God has bestowed upon you in your life.  I know that through prayer and reflection you will come to a meaningful response. 
While CCOP is our parish and our spiritual home, we are also part of a much larger, universal family.  We have been entrusted with their care as well.  If we act together as members of one family united in Christ’s hope, we can realize and accomplish great things.   I thank you in advance for your generous response to the 2026 Bishop’s Ministries Appeal: "One Faith. One family. One Mission."

As we continue to celebrate our 125th anniversary year, let us remember to keep each other in prayer.
 
Fr. Mark
OUR GOAL
$117,500

GIFTS & PLEDGES TO DATE
$37,200

PROGRESS
TOWARDS
GOAL
​32%
PASTORAL MINISTRIES & SERVICES
Through diocesan pastoral ministries, parishioners deepen their faith, enrich family life, and build stronger parish communities as they embrace Christ’s teachings.
  • ​Liturgy
  • Youth Retreat Center
  • Respect Life & Justice Programs
  • Catholic Youth Organization (CYO)
  • Vietnamese, Filipino & Latino Ministries
  • Catholic Scouting
  • Ethnic Pastoral Centers
  • Young Adult Ministries
  • Marriage & Family Life
  • Children & Youth Ministries
  • Marriage Preparation Programs
  • Safe Environment Programs
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION & FORMATION
Gifts to the appeal support multigenerational faith formation programs that equip parents to be primary teachers of faith while nurturing spiritual growth across all ages, creating lifelong disciples who bear witness of Christ’s love in the world.
  • Faith Formation Programs
  • Evangelization and Outreach Efforts
  • RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
  • Religious Education Teachers’ Training
  • Serra Catechetical Institute
  • St. Francis de Sales School for Pastoral Ministry
CLERGY FORMATION & SUPPORT | PRIEST RETIREMENT & CARE
Through the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal, we invest in our clergy’s growth and well-being, providing essential support and continuing education from their initial calling through retirement, strengthening their ability to serve our faith community.
  • Permanent Diaconate Program
  • Office of Vocations
  • Seminarian Education & Formation
  • Priest Retirement & Long-term Care
  • Continuing Education Programs
​SUPPORT FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS & PARISHES IN NEED
Each year, the diocese provides subsidies and grants to assist with operating expenses at our inner-city Catholic schools and for parishes and faith communities that are facing extraordinary and immediate financial challenges.
  • Operating Subsidies
  • Capital Expenditure Grants
  • Emergency Funding Support
ASSISTING LOCAL PARISHES
Every parish has its own needs and plans for growth and new ministries to better serve its parishioners and the local community. The Bishop’s Ministries Appeal will again return 100% of all monies collected over each parish’s goal for use at the parish level.
BISHOP'S MINISTRIES APPEAL PRAYER

​Loving and merciful God,

We are your family, brothers and sisters entrusted with the mission of your Church in the Diocese of Oakland.

We call upon our blessed Mother, Queen of the World and patroness of our Diocese, to guide us as a people committed to serving the needs of all God’s people, to tend the flock entrusted to our care.

Look upon us, loving Shepherd, the sheep you have redeemed by your Precious Blood. We offer you our grateful prayer and ask your blessing on all our endeavors.

Amen.
SUPPORT THE 2026 BISHOP'S MINISTY APPEAL
Please select "Catholic Community of Pleasanton" from the drop down menu.