There is a beautiful truth about our Catholic faith: when we answer Christ’s call to generosity, lives are changed.
Every day across western Kentucky, your gifts to the Disciples Response Fund become instruments of God’s grace. You may never meet the young person whose faith is renewed at camp, the engaged couple preparing for a lifelong sacramental marriage, or the seminarian discerning God’s call to the priesthood. Yet, through your generosity, you become part of each of their stories.
One of the extraordinary blessings of the Disciples Response Fund is that every gift—whether large or small—is joined together to become something far greater than any one of us could accomplish alone. Together, we share in the work of building God’s Kingdom. With a gift to the Disciples Response Fund, you can become part of God’s work throughout the Diocese of Owensboro, helping to form young disciples, strengthen families and prepare future priests.
Each summer at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp, children and teenagers encounter Jesus Christ in ways that often shape the course of their lives. Friendships rooted in faith are formed. Hearts are opened to God’s call. In fact, young women who once attended camp have entered religious life, former campers and staff have discerned vocations to the priesthood, faithful Catholic marriages have begun among former staff members, and even families have entered the Catholic Church because of their children’s experience at camp. These are not simply camp memories—they are lasting fruits of faith.
Your generosity also helps us prepare the future priests who will one day baptize our children, celebrate the Eucharist, witness marriages, comfort families in times of sorrow, and proclaim the Gospel in our parishes. Today, we are blessed with 14 men discerning God’s call to the priesthood. Seminarian formation is the single largest ministry supported through the Disciples Response Fund, with an annual investment of approximately $938,000 each year. While the cost is significant, the gift of a faithful priest serving God’s people for decades is beyond measure. I ask you to keep these men in your prayers as they continue to listen to God’s call.
Strong families remain the heart of a vibrant Church. Through our Catholic Marriage Ministry, engaged couples receive more than preparation for their wedding day. They are given a strong Catholic foundation for a lifetime of faithful marriage. Through marriage preparation, retreats, and ongoing support like the Grace Marriage program, we continue accompanying couples as they grow together in faith and love. Healthy marriages strengthen families, and strong families strengthen every parish in our Diocese.
The Disciples Response Fund also supports Youth Ministry, creating opportunities for young people to deepen their relationship with Christ through retreats, service experiences, leadership formation, and parish programs. In a world that often pulls our youth in many different directions, these ministries remind them that they are known, loved, and called by God.
When you support the Disciples Response Fund, you are helping a child discover Christ. You are encouraging a young person to remain active in the Church. You are strengthening a marriage and a family. You are helping prepare the next generation of priests who will faithfully serve our Diocese for years to come.
I invite you to prayerfully consider making a generous gift to this year’s Disciples Response Fund. Every act of generosity becomes a blessing that helps build a stronger Church for future generations. Thank you and may God abundantly bless you and your loved ones.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend William F. Medley
Bishop for the Diocese of Owensboro
Every Parish in the Diocese receives a direct financial benefit from the DRF!