We asked. You delivered. Thank you.

With the Register’s 2009-10 Annual Fund Drive, we asked our readers to help us — in a more concerted way than ever before — as we continue equipping Catholic Americans for the hard work of 21st-century Christian discipleship.

We have supplemented our subscription and advertising revenues with fund raising dollars for many years. And with the business realities created by increased postage and production costs, we will need to continue to rely on your generous partnership in this vital mission. The good news is that, with your ongoing support, we will continue to deliver the good news.

The final tally of “AFD 2010” is in.
 
We are delighted to announce that our mercury ultimately reached quite a bit closer to our $1.1 million goal than our last-minute projections prepared us for. Thanks to a total outpouring of $811,865 worth of your strong support, coupled with our efforts to cut our annual operating expenses by more than 25% — that’s $1 million-plus — the burden ahead looks far more manageable today than it looked a year ago.

And so we say:

Thank you, each and every Register donor who helped this campaign come as close as it did to an unqualified victory — those of you who granted us permission to thank you by name or dedication in our print edition, and those who chose to remain anonymous.
 
Every contribution helps us inform, prepare and inspire Catholics unafraid to bring Christ to the world and the world to Christ.

As we explained in our Annual Fund Drive materials, the Register provides multiple millions of “formation moments” to multiple thousands of Catholics. Our active, informed and engaged readers include not only the best and brightest lay disciples in the land but also some of the most influential bishops, Vatican officials and priests in the entire Church.

Stated succinctly: Great Catholic communications can help the Church save the world. You have helped the Church provide great Catholic communications.
 
God bless you.