This month, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is launching its 2026 Annual Catholic Services Appeal under the theme “Be the Light,” inviting Catholics across the local Church to support ministries serving parishes, schools, and charitable outreach throughout the District of Columbia and the five surrounding Maryland counties.
The Annual Appeal has a $12 million goal for 2026 and funds a broad range of pastoral, educational, and charitable programs central to the mission of the archdiocese, and 100 percent of contributions to the Appeal are restricted to the ministries it supports and are not used for other purposes.
In a letter to parishioners, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, archbishop of Washington, emphasized the essential role the Annual Catholic Services Appeal plays in sustaining the work of the local Church, and how many aspects of Catholic life depend on funding provided through the Appeal, including priestly formation, Catholic education, parish life, and charitable outreach.
“What you may not know is just how much each of these depends upon the funding provided by the Annual Catholic Services Appeal,” Cardinal McElroy wrote, adding that support for the Appeal sustains blessings that “benefit us all.”
Vocations, seminarian education, and clergy and religious support account for $4.7 million of the Appeal’s planned allocations. If the Appeal reaches its goal, Catholic education and catechesis will be supported with $2.1 million, while chaplaincies for campus ministries, hospitals, and prisons will receive $1.5 million; with major funding also earmarked for social justice and outreach ministries at $1.4 million; communications and digital evangelization at $1.2 million, and parish, family, and life ministries at $1.1 million. The Appeal also supports initiatives related to evangelization, inclusion, and welcoming new members into the Catholic community.
The Annual Catholic Services Appeal is intended to extend, not replace, parish-level giving. Mary Simboski, the Secretary for Stewardship for the Archdiocese of Washington, said the Appeal supports more than 70 ministries operating both within parishes and across the archdiocese.
“Through our generosity, we take part in the mission of the Church,” Simboski said. “From faith formation and evangelization to social services and parish ministries, the Appeal helps make a meaningful difference in countless lives. Together, we can be the light in our parishes and across the Archdiocese.”
Simboski, who has worked and volunteered in philanthropy and stewardship for many years, said her work is shaped by collaboration with Catholics who “give of themselves to help others” and strengthen their communities. She described the Archdiocese of Washington as “a vibrant community of faith” and said it is an honor to work alongside people committed to supporting and sustaining its mission.
This year’s Appeal also includes expanded support for parishes during the campaign. A committee of pastors has been formed to help support implementation of the Appeal and to gather feedback from parishes, with the goal of strengthening the campaign in the years ahead.
In his letter, Cardinal McElroy connected the theme “Be the Light” to the Church’s call for people to live out their faith through shared responsibility and generosity.
“Our lives shine brightly when we share in common what we have for the benefit of others, and by being a part of something greater than ourselves,” Cardinal McElroy wrote in a letter included in the Appeal brochure.
The Appeal materials also include reflections from individuals whose lives have been shaped by ministries supported through the campaign, including seminarians, students, campus ministry leaders, and volunteers engaged in parish-based outreach efforts.
The Archdiocese of Washington offers multiple ways for Catholics to contribute to the 2026 Appeal, including online giving, monthly pledges, phone donations, and gifts of appreciated securities and cryptocurrency. Suggested giving levels are outlined based on household income, with options to spread contributions over a 10-month period.
Simboski emphasized that participation in the Appeal is meant to be prayerful and proportional.
“The Annual Catholic Services Appeal is an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the life of our Church and its ministries. We encourage everyone to learn about the ministries they are supporting through the Appeal,” she said. “Then we hope they will prayerfully consider a commitment that is appropriate for their circumstances.”
Most people make their first gift to the Appeal during Commitment Weekend, scheduled for Feb. 7-8. The Appeal will be announced at parishes during the weekend of Jan. 31 to Feb. 1. Additional information about the 2026 Annual Catholic Services Appeal and the ministries it supports is available at appeal.adw.org.
Catholics with questions about the Appeal are invited to contact the Office of Development at 301-637-6129 or by email at development@adw.org.
