DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, Over the past several years, our Diocese of Jackson has journeyed together through the Synod process, listening prayerfully to the voices of clergy, religious, and laity across our Diocese. Through parish gatherings, listening sessions, and conversations rooted in faith and prayer, one message became clear: we must invest in the future of our Church by forming strong spiritual leaders and strengthening our parish communities. As we prayerfully discerned the needs of our Diocese through the synodal process, the Holy Spirit continually led us toward a vision of hope, growth, and renewal. That same Spirit now calls us to respond with faith and generosity as we strengthen the foundations of our Church for generations to come. I am pleased to invite you to participate in our capital campaign, United In Mission. This campaign reflects our shared commitment to the mission of the Church and addresses important priorities for the future of our Diocese. First, it will help provide lasting support for the education and formation of our growing number of seminarians. God continues to bless us with young men answering the call to discern the priesthood, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the resources are available to prepare these future shepherds to serve the People of God throughout our Diocese. A unique feature of this campaign is the direct benefit it provides to every parish. Once a parish's 2027 CSA target is met, fifty percent of the funds raised from parishioners at each parish will remain in that parish to address local needs and priorities. Whether supporting ministries or enhancing facilities these resources will help strengthen parish communities and advance the mission of the Church at the local level. In addition, this campaign will provide support for the mission and ministries funded through the 2027 Catholic Service Appeal which remains essential to the life of our Diocese and the people we serve each day. As one diocesan family, we are called to move forward together. United by our faith and guided by the Holy Spirit, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our Church today while preparing for the needs of tomorrow. I invite you to join me in this historic effort. Together, we can ensure that the Diocese of Jackson remains strong, vibrant, and faithful for generations to come. Thank you for your prayers, generosity, and commitment to the mission of Christ and His Church. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Joseph R. Kopacz
It is with great joy and anticipation that we announce the launch of the Capital Campaign, United In Mission, to serve the people and parishes of our diocese. This campaign, conducted over the next year, will infuse much needed funds into the parishes of our diocese. It will also allow the faithful to work together to accomplish crucial projects, vital to the long-term growth of the Diocese of Jackson.
Forming Shepherds + Strengthening Parishes The United In Mission Capital Campaign is an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the future of the Diocese of Jackson. Through this campaign, we seek to raise $21.5 million from the faithful of our Diocese. Of this total, $10 million will establish a Permanent Seminarian Education Endowment, ensuring that future generations of priests receive the formation and education needed to serve the people of Mississippi. An additional $10 million will remain in our parishes through the Parish Share program. Funds raised by each parish for its Parish Share will remain with that parish to support its own identified projects and priorities, strengthening parish life and ministry at the local level. Finally, $1.5 million will support the 2027 Catholic Service Appeal, helping sustain the vital ministries that serve our faithful each day.
“The prayers and the support of all the people have been incredible. I am able to spend all of my time in discernment at seminary because of the generosity of the people. I don’t have to have a part-time job. I don’t have to worry about finances. I can totally give myself to the Lord and this calling, and that is such a relief.” —EJ Martin, Seminarian
Where Your Gi Will Make a Difference Seminarian Education Endowment – $10 Million The future of our Church depends on the formation of faithful and well-prepared priests. The Seminarian Education Endowment will provide a permanent source of funding to support the spiritual, academic, and pastoral formation of future priests, ensuring that generations of Catholics throughout Mississippi will be served by dedicated shepherds for years to come.
Parish Growth and Development – $10 Million
2027 Catholic Service Appeal – $1.5 Million The 2027 Catholic Service Appeal will not be conducted in its usual manner; rather, by including the 2027 Appeal as part of the campaign, donors can make one commitment that supports diocesan ministries today while also investing in future priestly vocations and parish growth. This unified approach allows us to strengthen the Church at every level – now and for generations to come.
Every parish will have the opportunity to benefit directly from the United In Mission campaign. Each parish has been assigned a realistic and achievable campaign target based on its offertory income. This target will include the parish's 2027 Catholic Service Appeal commitment, allowing parishioners to participate in a single, unified effort that supports both local parish needs and The United In Mission Capital Campaign is the broader mission of the Diocese of being administered by the Catholic FounJackson. dation of the Diocese of Jackson. For more The first funds raised by each parish than 50 years, the Foundation has partwill be used to satisfy the 2027 Apnered with donors, parishes, and minispeal. Once a parish surpasses its 2027 tries to provide responsible stewardship Catholic Service Appeal goal, 50% of of charitable gifts and endowment funds. the funds collected up to its United The Foundation will oversee campaign In Mission target will return to the administration, gift processing, pledge parish, to be used in the manner that fulfillment, and the best serves its needs. Should a parish long-term mansurpass its United In Mission target, agement of cam70% of the additional funds collected paign endowment will return to the parish, with unlimfunds to ensure ited potential. donor intentions are honored and resources are Parish Goal protected for 2027 CSA target fulfilled future generations. 50% 50%
Parish Blocks Each parish will have a chance to conduct the campaign in one of two timeframes: Fall 2026 or Spring 2027. This allows parishes to choose the timeframe that will flow seamlessly within the structure of parish life. The active portion of the United In Mission campaign will conclude in June of 2027 and pledges will be redeemed over a five-year period.
Block One Parishes: St. Mary Batesville St. Francis of Assisi Brookhaven Sacred Heart Camden Holy Child Jesus Canton St. Anne Carthage Immaculate Conception Clarksdale St. Elizabeth Clarksdale Our Lady of Victories Cleveland Holy Savior Clinton St. John Crystal Springs St. Michael Forest Sacred Heart Greenville St. Joseph Greenville Immaculate Heart of Mary Greenwood St. Martin of Tours Hazlehurst Holy Spirit Hernando St. Joseph Holly Springs Immaculate Heart of Mary Houston Cathedral of St. Peter Jackson the Apostle Christ the King Jackson St. Therese Jackson St. Therese Kosciusko Sacred Heart Louisville St. Joseph Meridian St. Patrick Meridian St. Martin de Porres Morton St. Francis of Assisi New Albany St. Anne Newton Queen of Peace Olive Branch St. John Oxford St. Michael Paulding St. Jude Pearl Holy Cross Philadelphia Immaculate Conception Raymond Good Shepherd Robinsonville St. John Sardis St. Gregory the Great Senatobia St. Francis Shaw St. Mary Shelby Christ the King Southaven Catholic Community of Vardaman St. Michael Vicksburg
Block Two Parishes: St. Francis of Assisi Aberdeen St. Helen Amory Our Mother of Mercy Anguilla Catholic Community of Belmont All Saints Belzoni St. Francis of Assisi Booneville Sacred Heart Canton St. John Charleston Annunciation Columbus St. Catherine Conehatta St. James the Less Corinth St. John Cranfield St. Anne Fayette St. Paul Flowood Christ the King Fulton Holy Family Gloster St. Joseph Gluckstadt St. Francis of Assisi Greenwood St. Peter Grenada Immaculate Conception Hollandale Immaculate Conception Indianola St. Benedict the Moor Indianola St. Mary Iuka Holy Family Jackson Holy Ghost Jackson St. Richard Jackson St. James Leland St. Thomas Lexington Corpus Christi Macon St. Francis of Assisi Madison St. Stephen Magee St. James Magnolia St. Alphonsus McComb Assumption of BVM Natchez Holy Family Natchez Basilica of St. Mary Natchez St. Therese Pearl River Holy Rosary Philadelphia St. Christopher Pontotoc St. Joseph Port Gibson St. Matthew Ripley St. Joseph Starkville St. James Tupelo St. Mary Vicksburg St. Paul Vicksburg Immaculate Conception West Point Sacred Heart Winona St. Joseph Woodville St. Mary Yazoo City
unitedinmissionjackson.org
This unified approach allows us to strengthen the Church at every level – now and for generations to come.