Every two years, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison invites a couple from the Diocese of Madison to serve as chair couple for the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA), a role that brings visibility to the appeal and highlights the ministries it supports. 

This year, Tim and Margaret Powers of Epiphany of the Lord Parish are honored to serve in this capacity, sharing their story and their deep commitment to the Church’s mission.

Tim and Margaret met as college students and have been married for 36 years. 

Their family has long been rooted in parish life and Catholic education. 

Their son and two daughters attended Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary School in Sun Prairie, and Margaret has worked at Epiphany of the Lord Parish for nearly eight years. 

She has also been actively involved in the diocesan Into the Deep initiative, and in helping parishioners grow in their understanding of the Faith and their call to discipleship. 

Tim has served on the Sacred Hearts development board and financial investment committee, offering his time and expertise to support the parish’s mission.

Their family’s spiritual journey took a profound turn during their son Luke’s senior year of high school, when he shared that he felt called to the priesthood. 

This call not only had an impact on their son’s life but also radically changed the lives of the whole family.  

“We’ve learned more about our faith in the last 12 years than at any other time in our lives,” they reflected. 

“The adage, ‘when the child becomes the teacher,’ has certainly proven true.”

Tim and Margaret support the Annual Catholic Appeal because they see the Church’s mission as far-reaching, extending well beyond their own parish. 

They have witnessed the impact of ACA-supported ministries firsthand. 

Their son, Fr. Luke Powers, served as a counselor at Camp Gray for two summers and later as the camp’s chaplain, a role he has held for more than four years. 

“We’ve seen the outreach at Camp to the staff and the fruits this has borne in vocations to marriage and Religious life,” they shared.

They’ve also witnessed how youth involvement in Frassati Fest, Love Begins Here, and Camp Gray has shaped the choices young people make as they head off to college.

Many young people choose to stay connected to their faith through Newman Centers and Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) missionary groups. 

These opportunities, they emphasize, are made possible through the financial support of the ACA.

Tim and Margaret are inspired by the growing number of people entering the Church, the increasing number of young men discerning the priesthood, and the many lay leaders stepping forward to serve. 

They believe the Holy Spirit is at work in powerful ways across the diocese, and that the ACA is a vital part of sustaining that momentum.

“For us, supporting the Annual Catholic Appeal is more than a donation,” they explained. 

“It’s a declaration of faith. It’s a way to say ‘yes’ to the Church’s mission, which extends beyond our own lives and even beyond our parish.”

They added, “Having a priest son, we see firsthand the call of our Religious, and we know they cannot do it all. Into the Deep and Go Make Disciples are a call to all of us to share our faith through works, through financial support, and through our time, and to live life authentically as Catholic Christians.”

Tim and Margaret Powers are living witnesses to what it means to be “Inspired by the Spirit.”

Their leadership reminds us that when we give to the Annual Catholic Appeal, we are not just supporting programs — we are nurturing vocations, forming disciples, and building a Church alive in Christ.