Clarion Herald, others need your help in #iGiveCatholic

by Peter Finney Jr.

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

The Clarion Herald desperately needs your support – as do Catholic parishes, schools and organizations across the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

One tangible way to help is by making an online gift during the 10th annual #iGiveCatholic campaign, the U.S. Catholic Church’s National Giving Day on “GivingTuesday,” Dec. 3.

Like many other Catholic publications, the Clarion Herald needs your support now more than ever as we are facing critical changes.

The Clarion Herald’s board of directors is discussing a recently completed study of readers – conducted by New Orleans-based Market Dynamics Research Group (MDRG) – that highlights the extent to which Catholics value the

Clarion Herald as a comprehensive source for the reporting of local Catholic news and for its Catholic perspective on important community issues.

The study also shows the degree to which the Clarion Herald provides a deep means of connection with those in the Catholic community and beyond.

The Clarion Herald’s board of directors is reviewing several options for the future, and those discussions rest heavily on identifying a sustainable stream of funding.

During the Ninth General Synod of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2017, more than 5,000 people who attended 17 town hall meetings ranked the Clarion Herald No. 2 – just behind Archbishop Gregory Aymond – when asked which things in the archdiocese were “working well.”

We need your support

About half of the people who took the MDRG survey say they are very likely to support the paper financially. This speaks to the positive sentiment and support throughout the local Catholic community for continuing the printed version of the paper. Discussions about the format are ongoing.

Many people who responded to the survey commented that the Clarion Herald has never asked them for financial support, but that they would be happy to contribute to a local Catholic publication that covers the local church and provides a means of connection within the archdiocese.

Please consider a dedicated gift to the Clarion Herald to igivecatholic.org and type Clarion Herald in the search bar at the top right of the page.

Checks also can be mailed directly to the Clarion Herald, 7887 Walmsley Ave., New Orleans, LA 70125.

You can access giving information for all entities within the archdiocese at www.igivecatholic.org.

The advance phase of #iGiveCatholic campaign is open through Dec. 2. The 24 hours of
“GivingTuesday” falls on Dec. 3 this year.

#iGiveCatholic, a leading national crowdfunding movement, has grown rapidly since its inception, engaging a wide array of Catholic dioceses, schools, ministries, and nonprofits. This year, more than 50 U.S. dioceses are joining forces, amplifying the impact of Catholic giving.

In 2023 alone, the campaign raised over $20 million from 58,822 donors across all 50 states and 22 countries, demonstrating the breadth of support for Catholic ministries.

New for 2024, #iGiveCatholic will broadcast a livestream at www.igivecatholic.org on Dec. 3 with morning, afternoon and evening segments featuring live interviews, videos and commentary highlighting a diverse selection of ministries, diocesan hosts, and #iGiveCatholic organizational leaders.

How to participate

Anyone can support the #iGiveCatholic campaign by visiting www.igivecatholic.org, where users can search for participating organizations by name, diocese, or cause (such as “campus ministry,” “homelessness and housing,” or “pro-life”) to find organizations aligned with their values and interests.

Online donations will be accepted 24/7 now through 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 3. Supporters can also contribute offline by sending cash or check donations directly to participating organizations for inclusion in their campaign results.

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