Posted April 15, 2010

By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer

Contributors to the archdiocesan capital and endowment campaign, “Heritage of Faith, Vision of Hope” can bank on the fact that all money is deposited into a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) charitable fund where oversight, transparency and accountability are assured through a board of directors and an annual audit by an external agency.

The purpose of the corporation is to ensure that funds pledged to the campaign are collected and subsequently distributed to six entities designated in the campaign case statement: the 267 parishes of the Archdiocese; Catholic education; the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia; St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood; clergy retirement; and to the three branches of the Archdiocese’s Catholic Human Services: Catholic Social Services, Catholic Health Care Services and Nutritional Development Services.

Auxiliary Bishop Timothy C. Senior, the Archdiocese’s Vicar for Administration, serves as the president and chair of the board of directors.

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, the auxiliary bishop who assists Cardinal Justin Rigali in overseeing the capital campaign, is the vice-president.

Assisting them are nine lay board members.

“The Cardinal is very open to lay oversight – something that is extremely important right now in our Catholic Church,” said the campaign’s co-chair, James J. Maguire Sr., chairman and founder of Philadelphia Insurance Companies headquartered in Bala Cynwyd and a member of Our Mother of Consolation Parish in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia.

“He’s the Cardinal, but the Church belongs to the people and we want to make sure that the Cardinal has input from the people,” Maguire added. “I feel very responsible in making sure these things happen.”

Serving as the board’s secretary is William R. Sasso, chairman of the board of the law firm Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young in Philadelphia who belongs to St. Rose of Lima Parish in North Wales, Montgomery County.

James D. Delaney, president of J.D. Capital, a private investment company in King of Prussia, is the board’s treasurer and chair of the finance and audit committee. He belongs to St. John Baptist Vianney Parish in Gladwyne, Montgomery County.

“It’s a great blessing to have such an outstanding group of Catholic leaders who are willing to assist the Archdiocese in this effort,” Bishop Senior said of the board.

“The capital campaign has been blessed by men and women who have stepped forward to assist us in general, and this is one more reflection of that – people who are certainly exercising good stewardship not only through their commitment of their treasure but of their time and talent as well in this very important effort on the part of the Archdiocese to strengthen the life of the Church,” he added.

“Heritage of Faith, Vision of Hope” sought the non-profit status in response to the advice and guidance of clergy and lay leaders during the feasibility study and design phase of the campaign.

As a separate corporation with a specific purpose, the status adds a civil, legal assurance from an outside regulator, namely the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“The 501(c)(3) structure provides a level of security so that our donors have an added level of confidence,” Bishop Senior said.

Building up the Church, collaboratively, is the bottom line.

“We’re moving ahead – and we’re moving ahead together,” Bishop Senior said, “to strengthen the core ministries that have been marks of the life of the Church in Philadelphia for over 200 years.

“This is the work of the Holy Spirit – ultimately, it’s God’s work.”

CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at 215-587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.