DIocesan Campaign for Mercy Promoting merciful justice and hope for those in need among us

The Diocesan Campaign for Mercy (DCM) is is a new opportunity for our faithful to support programs that directly address the root causes of poverty in the Diocese of Oakland and that are true to Catholic Church teachings. Working closely with our parishes and organizations, the DCM provides grants for programs addressing the many challenges caused by poverty, including unexpected or fragile pregnancies, increased violence, pressures faced by immigrants and refugees, and limited access to food, housing, safe childcare, job training, transportation, and clean water and air.

Graphics and print material

Use these graphics in parish communications to promote the campaign. Parishes will also be receiving cards to be distributed in the pews the weekend of Nov. 15-16.

Graphic full color: social media and bulletins

Graphic black and white: for bulletins

Graphic: black and white for bulletins, larger text

Pulpit announcement

Please join us in supporting a new initiative in our diocese, which will provide grants to worthwhile organizations in the Bay Area that directly address the root causes of poverty here and that are true to the teachings of the Catholic Church. You'll find a card in your pew with a QR code and more information on the campaign.

The primary funding for DCM will come from an annual parish collection held the weekend before Thanksgiving. This is the same weekend as the Catholic Campaign for Human Development’s (CCHD) collection.

This year the collection will be Nov. 15-16. Each parish will be provided with in-pew cards with directions for parishioners to donate online, including a QR code so that they can use their mobile device to make a donation. Your parish will receive its allotment of in pew cards before Nov. 10. If you do not receive the shipment or need more cards, please contact he Office for Mission Advancement at 510-267-8358 or MissionAdvancement@oakdiocese.org.

Some parishioners may want to use the CCHD envelope already in their envelope box. It is important that you and your staff process those gifts as you have in the past.

For all years following, there will be new envelopes for the Diocesan Campaign for Mercy in the envelope boxes, replacing the envelope for CCHD.

To ensure our resources reach those who need them most, DCM will implement a structured grant application process. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt or operate under a fiscal agent with 501(c)(3) status and have diocesan or parish affiliation within our geographic boundaries. Applications will be reviewed thoroughly, with recommendations for awards made to Bishop Barber by the DCM Allocation Committee each year. Grant recipients will be accountable for the proper use of funds through routine reporting requirements.

DCM will prioritize funding for projects that meet clear needs and can demonstrate measurable impact. Our focus includes educational programs addressing the root causes of poverty, food banks, initiatives to promote stable family life, and efforts to protect human life from conception to natural death. DCM will not fund organizations whose activities conflict with Catholic teaching on life and dignity, such as those promoting abortion or euthanasia, undermining family, or tolerating racism or unjust discrimination. As with all Catholic ministries, DCM reaches out to the wider community, serving those seeking to overcome poverty regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion, while remaining faithful to our moral and social teachings.

Our diocesan website, oakdiocese.org, will carry promotional material and information on grant applications, success stories and more. Watch The Weekly to learn when that is available. If you have further questions, please contact Rick Medeiros at chancellor@oakdiocese.org.