United Catholic Appeal (UCA)
The United Catholic Appeal is an annual diocesan assessment and is a major portion of the diocesan operating budget. Each parish in the diocese is assessed each year based on the previous year's ordinary income (plate income, envelope income). The assessment needs to be paid in full by December 31 of each year. If the assessment is not met by parishioner's contributions, then the balance must be paid out of the parish emergency reserves.
Each registered household in the diocese receives a mailing the last week of April outlining the theme for the year and how the money will be spent. In our diocese, a large portion of the budget goes to help seminarians. The money is also used to fund other diocesan functions and offices.
Our parish assessment this year is not determined yet.