A Message from Cardinal DiNardo

Dear friends in Christ,

One of the most frequent questions we receive is “why do we have the Diocesan Services Fund?” The answer is simple – because we are Catholic and we are called to serve one another.

The Diocesan Services Fund allows the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to support 64 ministries that no one parish can conduct on its own. Through your support, together we can more fully live out the Gospel message of Jesus Christ by serving the poor, the sick, the homeless, and the forgotten; we can educate future generations of faithful and flourishing Catholics through our schools; we can prepare our seminarians for the priesthood and support our clergy as they ministry to the 1.7 million Catholics in the Archdiocese; and we can help to nurture holy families that bring the love of God into each of our homes and our communities.

God, who is truly the strength of our hearts, calls us through His son Jesus to love and serve joyfully. The Diocesan Services Fund allows us, as Catholic Christians, to joyfully fulfill that call and to show a true love of neighbor through service and prayer.

I invite you to join me in supporting the Diocesan Services Fund and helping our local Church continue to live out our faith in an authentic and inspiring way.

The Diocesan Services Fund (DSF) is the annual appeal that provides funding for essential ministries and programs that serve the religious, spiritual and human needs of thousands of people from every parish. Catechetical programs, hospital and prison ministries, programs for the aging and youth and many more are made possible by the annual DSF.  Each parish is assessed an annual amount by the Archdiocese which is to be paid by parishioners during the calendar year (January - December).  Any shortfall must be covered by the parish.   The annual campaign ends December 31st.  Our assessed amount for 2023 is $143,000.

1. Pledge Card - As a registered parishioner of St. Bernadette Church and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, you should have received a letter from Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, requesting your support. The Cardinal's letter included a pledge form and return envelope, simply complete the pledge form and drop it in the mail.  Pledge cards can also be found in the turnstile in the back of the church.
2. Online - You may donate online. You will need your constituent ID which may be obtained by emailing DSF and including your full name, spouse name, address and parish that you want to be credited with your donation. A constituent ID will be emailed to you.
3. Phone - You may call the DSF office (713.659.5461, ask for Development Records) and they will create a pledge for you over the phone. (Please be sure to indicate that you are a member at St. Bernadette Church #7426 so the pledge is credited to the parish.)
4. Mail - You may send a check (made out to Diocesan Services Fund) to: Diocesan Services Fund, P.O. Box 4681, Houston, TX 77210-4681.  (Please be sure to indicate that you are a member at St. Bernadette Church #7426 so the pledge is credited to the parish.)