The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester has announced its goal for its annual Catholic Ministries Appeal: $5.875 million dollars.
That's more than the record $5.4-million raised in last year's campaign.
Bishop Robert Cunningham, who serves as the Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese, kicked off the campaign today.
He says the ministries and services the CMA funds effect every facet of Catholic life, and every Catholic in the 12-county diocese.
Meanwhile, Bishop Cunningham says the process to find a permanent Bishop for Rochester continues, and he has no idea when someone will be selected.
Cunningham says the work of the church goes on, even without an active Bishop in place in the Rochester Diocese, so that shouldn't impact the campaign.
As for some recent remarks by Pope Francis on contraception, homosexuality and abortion, Bishop Cunningham says the Pope doesn't change doctrine, or dogma or moral teaching, but his style of explaining and dealing with those kind of issues is a little bit different.
He adds the church must reach out to those who are struggling with those issues.