URGENT: Your prompt support is crucial for Catholic Men Chicago Southland (CMCS) to sustain its mission in Chicago throughout 2025.

If you don’t require additional information, we kindly ask that you make your largest contribution now, as time is of the essence to ensure our operations continue through January 2025. We are currently facing a $140.00 shortfall from our Fall Appeal. While this may seem like a small amount, it becomes significant if we do not have it available for our activities.

Here’s more context:

When I co-founded CMCS in 2004 alongside Deacon John Rangel and Bishop Emeritus Joseph Perry, starting as an annual Men's Conference in Vicariate VI of the Archdiocese of Chicago and later transitioning to add a free Catholic internet service in 2009, I never anticipated it would serve thousands of Catholics, potential converts, and seminarians annually. (Even more benefit from it indirectly; read on.)

As we included Bishop Perry's written insights as well as from Deacon's and others, created valuable resources for ' Living the Goodness of a Catholic Man', and launched the Catholic Man Moment video/podcasts along with a news feed, CMCSMen.net evolved into a vital voice for Catholic Manhood, reaching audiences not just in Chicagoland, but across the nation.

Unfortunately, as our journey has progressed and is taking more time to produce, costs have escalated, and we now face the urgent need to be like other men's apostolates and formally add myself as paid director, and first salaried staff member. Why is this necessary? At 60 years old, I am aware that I won't be able to fulfill this role effectively but for a few more years. While this budget is modest to start, we must anticipate the future hiring and mentoring a young Catholic web expert and director, likely with a growing family, who will require a competitive salary to ensure the future of CMCS Apostolate.

 

 

For these reasons, it is essential for our annual budget to increase, and this needs to happen now. We have a very small and lean budget with a powerful impact punch. For example we mostly use platforms with a freemium business model yet donate to them because it's more economical and we believe in their efforts. And we're now asking you to do the same with CMCS.

We must raise $40,249 right away to support our bold vision  and fulfill our current commitments as we move towards our mission in 2025. If we can secure the necessary funds, I am confident that CMCS Apostolate and CMCSMen.net will continue to deliver valuable Catholic resources and authentic apostolic encouragement to men who are looking to deepen their spiritual growth during these challenging cultural times.

Once again, I urge you to contribute your maximum gift today, before time runs out.

A NOTE ON OUR REACH:

Many individuals who engage with our blog and podcasts do not do so through our website; instead, they rely on this email newsletter service. Additionally, when you consider the multitude of men utilizing our resources to enhance their religious insights, along with the numerous items from our content that are freely shared in various formats, from local newsletters to parish bulletins, or simply (and mostly) passed along from one man to another, 

...we conservatively estimate that our resources benefit approximately three times the number of visitors to our website, impacting around 15,000 people each year.

THE SOBER TRUTH:

A more realistic perspective is that these resources significantly impact more men in (re)committing to the Catholic Sacraments and centering their lives around Christ than we realize, mainly because spiritual growth is deeply personal unless communicated to us.

I propose that donating to support CMCS represents not only a meaningful apostolic commitment but also an essential apostolic service. Each donor contributes immensely to the Catholic mission. Our robust offerings of Catholic news, commentary, podcasts, and spiritual resources are [downloaded and] utilized freely and shared widely, benefiting numerous men at Chicagoland area parishes as well as men in parish men's groups throughout the archdiocese and potentially across the country.

However, the continuation of our work relies on the material and spiritual generosity of individuals like you—our registered users.

TIME IS SHORT: With an annual debt free budget currently below $5,000, we cannot sustain our efforts into 2025 without first reaching our goal of $140.00 to catch up with the Fall campaign. Please consider making your maximum gift now.

Our support does not come from significant fortunes or large foundations; it is driven by individuals who benefit from our efforts and possess both the desire and ability to assist us. This support, encompassing both financial contributions and prayers, and sharing our content, is essential to our work.

This approach to our operations offers us a significant advantage: we can advocate for and support Catholic men regarding the Catholic Church without concern for offending any influential advertiser or sponsor who might withdraw support unexpectedly. We maintain complete independence; we can share our observations and provide our candid opinions while remaining true to the magisterial teachings of the Church, under the monitoring and apostolate of Very Rev. Larry Sullivan, Interim Vicar for Chicago Vicariate VI.

Both your financial support and your prayers are vital to our Catholic mission. Thank you!