The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Millennium Campaign, the largest fund-raising project ever conducted by any diocese in the history of the Catholic Church, has passed $220 million in pledges.

The announcement of the campaign’s success was made Feb. 19 to a luncheon gathering of pastors and lay leaders at Quigley Preparatory Seminary.

The goal of the Millennium Campaign, which has been underway in archdiocesan parishes since the Jubilee year of 2000, had been $200 million, but the generosity of parishioners topped that figure. Several parishes are still completing their campaigns and complete results are anticipated to bring the number even higher.

In remarks to the Feb. 19 gathering, Cardinal George acknowledged the hard work and involvement of parishioners and the leadership of pastors.

“We are here today to acknowledge all the good stewards of our Lord’s gifts who live and work in our parishes,” the cardinal said. “The selfless and generous response by parishioners, pastors and lay leadership to the opportunity to wholeheartedly share Christ’s gifts … is awesome.”

A special section in this edition of The Catholic New World explains the Millennium Campaign, how many of the parishes plan to use the funds generated and lists the results by parish. In addition, an article on Page 6 explains the archdiocese’s current debt-forgiveness program.

Cardinal George said he was “gratified” by the efforts and said, “These extraordinary results are a wonderful expression of faith by parishioners of diverse cultural and economic backgrounds in virtually all our parishes.”

He praised the sense of stewardship—of giving back to God because God has given us so much.

Jimmy Lago, archdiocesan chancellor, also acknowledged the success of the campaign and explained that more than 80 percent of the funds remained in the parishes for capital and ministerial improvements. The remainder would be used to provide grants to assist needy parishes, to fund the Bishop Lyne Retirement Home for Priests in Lemont and for infrastructure repairs at St. Mary of the Lake University/Mundelein Seminary.