Archbishop’s Annual Appeal 2024: Top Parishes

Each year, the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal invites parishioners to partner in the vital work of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. These contributions directly support a wide range of ministries and outreach programs that impact countless lives. The success of the 2024 Appeal, which exceeded its $9.4 million goal, is a testament to the commitment of our community. 

It’s also a testament to the hard work of many parishes across the archdiocese. The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal operates through parishes, with all donations attributed to a parish. Each one has a goal for the Appeal and helping your parish meet and exceed its goal is critical not just for the archdiocese – your parish can benefit directly, too. Parishes receive a rebate for anything above 100% of their goal. Conversely, any deficit is covered by the parish’s offertory. In 2024, $2.1 million was returned to parishes! 

A successful Appeal is no small feat for a parish. It requires hard work from the parish clergy and staff to engage parishioners, provide them with multiple ways to participate, and give them visual or verbal reminders throughout the year. From parishioners, it requires generosity and an open heart, engagement with their parish, willingness to participate, and fulfillment of pledge commitments. 

Today, we celebrate the following parishes and their parishioners for a remarkably successful Archbishop’s Annual Appeal! 

Top Parishes in 2024

Here are the top 10 parishes in the Archdiocese of Atlanta across 5 important categories.

Most Funds Raised Over Goal

Exceeding Expectations: These parishes not only met their Archbishop’s Annual Appeal goal but surpassed it by the largest dollar amount. Their outstanding efforts generated the most significant overage, demonstrating a profound sense of philanthropy amongst their parishioners who are eager to support the wider mission of our Archdiocese. Funds will be reinvested in their own parish communities, empowering them to address local needs and initiatives.

1. Saint Benedict
2. Saint Peter Chanel
3. Saint Thomas Aquinas
4. Saint Lawrence
5. Transfiguration
6. Holy Spirit
7. Saint Brigid
8. Saint Ann
9. Saint Jude the Apostle
10. Saint Thomas the Apostle

Largest % of Goal Surpassed

Leading the Charge in Generosity: Just as the poor widow gave the most significant gift in God’s eyes, the greatest gift is given in proportion to what we have, not amount alone. This category celebrates the parishes that had the most significant proportional success in the 2024 Appeal. By exceeding their individual goals by the highest percentage, these communities showcased remarkable generosity and a deep commitment to the Appeal’s mission within their own parish boundaries.

1. Saint Andrew Kim, 265% over goal
2. Saint Mary, Toccoa, 118%
3. Saint Benedict, 114%
4. Saint Clement, 108%
5. Holy Name of Jesus, 103%
6. Saint Peter the Rock, 98%
7. Saint Luke the Evangelist, 91%
8. Saint Thomas Aquinas, 73%
9. Saint Anthony of Padua, Atlanta, 66%
10. Saint Lawrence, 62%

Most Participation

United in Giving: We have millions of Catholic parishioners in the Archdiocese of Atlanta and would love to see participation in the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal increase from 17% to 100%. The following parishes achieved the highest percentage of household participation in the 2024 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. This impressive level of engagement underscores the widespread commitment of many households to get involved and support both their parish and the Appeal.

1. Saint Mary, Toccoa, 58% of registered households participated in the Appeal
2. Sacred Heart, Griffin, 49%
3. Saint James, Madison, 47%
4. Saint Stephen the Martyr, 47%
5. Our Lady of Vietnam, 39%
6. Saint Anna, 33%
7. Christ Our King and Savior, 33%
8. Saint Lawrence, 33%
9. Our Lady of the Mount, 30%
10. Saint Mary Mother of God, 30%

Most Commitments Fulfilled

Honoring Promises: A pledge to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal represents a valuable commitment to our shared mission. These exemplary parishes had the fewest number of unfulfilled pledges in 2024, demonstrating a strong culture of follow-through and responsible giving within their communities. By ensuring commitments are honored, these parishes maximize the impact of the Appeal and reduce administrative costs for the Archdiocese. This list only includes those parishes that follow the typical pledge procedure, where pledges are credited to individual donors within a parish.

Note: Two parishes are tied for first place with ALL of their pledges being fulfilled. Ten parishes are tied for second place with all but one of their pledges fulfilled. 

1. Our Lady of Vietnam, 0 unfulfilled pledges
   Georgia Tech Catholic Center, 0
2. Most Blessed Sacrament, 1
   Good Samaritan, 1
   Queen of Angels, 1
   Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hartwell, 1
   Saint Anthony of Padua, Atlanta, 1
   Saint Augustine, 1
   Saint Gerard Majella, 1
   Korean Martyrs, 1
   Divino Nino Jesus, 1
   Saint Katharine Drexel, 1

Most Improved on Pledge Fulfillment

Commitment to Improvement: Recognizing the importance of fulfilled pledges, these parishes made significant strides in improving their pledge fulfillment rates from 2023 to 2024. By reducing the number of unfulfilled commitments, they demonstrated a dedicated effort to responsible stewardship and maximizing the resources available for the Appeal’s beneficiaries. Their progress is a testament to their commitment to continuous improvement. As above, this list only includes those parishes that follow the typical pledge procedure, where pledges are credited to individual donors within a parish.

1. Saint Philip Benizi
2. Saint John Vianney
3. Saint Mark
4. Saint Thomas the Apostle
5. Saint Clare
6. Saint Brendan
7. Prince of Peace
8. Good Shepherd
9. Saint Ann
10. Saint Joseph, Athens

We are so grateful for the participation and generosity of all the parishes across the Archdiocese of Atlanta. In a special way, we recognize the great success of all the parishes listed and the hard work of the parish staff and parishioners in increasing funds, participation, and pledge follow-through.

Thank you all for a successful 2024 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal!

Click here to learn more about the importance of the 2025 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal and the ministries it supports, and find ways to help your parish meet its goal.