The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix was established on December 2, 1969 by Pope Paul VI. The Diocese, which is comprised of 43,967 square miles, includes the counties of Maricopa, Mohave, Yavapai, and Coconino as well as the Gila River Indian Reservation in Pinal County.

The Charity and Development Appeal (CDA) began in 1969 in the newly established Diocese of Phoenix. Bishop Edward McCarthy and Rev. Msgr. John McMahon, the first CDA Chair, achieved a total of $845,231 in that first year.

Arizona and the Valley of the Sun (Metro Phoenix) are rapidly growing areas in the Southwest, and the Diocese of Phoenix has become the fastest growing diocese in the United States. When the Diocese of Phoenix was established in 1969, the Catholic population numbered around 180,000. There were 51 parishes, 61 missions, and a total of 182 Diocesan and Religious priests. Today, those numbers have drastically changed. There are 92 parishes, 23 missions and a total of 303 Diocesan, Religious and Extern priests to serve a Catholic population of over 764,140.

As the Diocese of Phoenix has grown over the years, so has the CDA. The 2010 Appeal achieved a total of $8,305,411 which brings the total raised through CDA since its inception to $208,377,900. The wonderful leadership of the CDA since its start in 1969 has offered great support over the years for our One Family in Christ.

Total Pledged History | CDA History Photo Gallery